Pat Cummins Admits, ‘It was a bridge too far’ after Lord’s loss
The World Test Championship 2025 final will be remembered for a long time to come, particularly for the dramatic upset that South Africa pulled off against Australia at Lord’s. Despite being the underdogs, the Proteas outplayed the Aussies in all departments to claim a historic victory, their first in a World Test Championship final.
Australia, led by Pat Cummins, had a decent start to the match, posting 345 in their first innings and taking a 45-run lead over South Africa. However, they failed to maintain their control over the match, allowing the Proteas to fight back and eventually take the lead.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Cummins was candid about Australia’s performance, admitting that they had reached a point of no return at some stage during the match. “Things can change quickly in cricket, but it was a bridge too far. There were a few things that we didn’t do right,” he said.
Cummins’ words were a testament to the often-cited phrase in cricket, ‘when you’re on a roll, stay on a roll.’ Australia had a golden opportunity to put the game out of South Africa’s reach, but they failed to capitalize on it. The Proteas’ tail-enders, in particular, played a crucial role in the match, adding 75 runs in the final session to take the lead.
The Australian bowling attack, considered one of the most formidable in the world, was also unable to make a significant impact. Despite taking five wickets, they failed to pick up regular wickets and allowed the South African batsmen to settle in. The Proteas’ top-order batsmen, led by Aiden Markram and Keegan Petersen, made the most of the Australian bowlers’ lack of precision, putting on a 150-run partnership to set up the match.
Cummins also acknowledged that his side had not been able to contain the South African openers, who had added 70 runs in the first session of the match. “We didn’t get the breakthrough we wanted, and then they got on a roll. We tried to fight back, but it was a bit of a struggle,” he said.
The Australian captain also praised the South African team for their spirited performance, saying that they had outplayed his side in all three departments. “They outplayed us in every aspect of the game. They batted well, bowled well, and fielded well. We just didn’t do enough to win the game,” he said.
The loss will undoubtedly be a painful one for the Australian team, particularly after they had come so close to winning the championship. However, as Cummins pointed out, there are always lessons to be learned from a defeat. “We’ll have to take this on the chin and move on. We’ll learn from our mistakes and come back stronger,” he said.
The victory, on the other hand, will be a massive confidence booster for the South African team, who had been struggling with injuries and form issues leading up to the match. The win will also send a strong message to the cricket world, that they are a force to be reckoned with in Test cricket.
As the cricket world congratulates the Proteas on their historic victory, the Australians will be left to ponder what went wrong and how they can improve their performance in the future. For Cummins and his team, it’s a reminder that, in cricket, even the smallest mistake can prove costly, and that sometimes, it’s just a bridge too far.
Source: https://cricfit.com/pat-cummins-admits-it-was-a-bridge-too-far-after-lords-loss/
