Pat Cummins defends 'fantastic' Mitchell Swepson despite flattering second innings showing
Australian captain Pat Cummins has come to the defence of debutant Mitchell Swepson, after his wicketless performance in the second innings against Pakistan.
Despite having 171 overs at Pakistan, Swepson and his fellow bowlers were unable to take the 10 wickets required to win the second Test in Karachi, with the home side holding on for a hard-fought draw.
After taking 2-32 in Pakistan's first innings, Swepson returned unflattering figures of 0-156 off 53.4 overs, the most balls bowled in an innings by an Australian Test debutant who ended up wicketless. The previous record of 292 balls was set by off-spinner Edwin Evans way back in 1881-82.
READ MORE: Tony Jones lashes Luke Beveridge's 'disgraceful' tirade
READ MORE: Roland-Garros makes call on Djokovic, Russian stars
READ MORE: EPL star to be prosecuted over cat-kicking video
Despite the lack of success, Cummins was pleased with the leg-spinner's first Test.
"I thought Mitch Swepson was fantastic on debut," Cummins said. "His figures absolutely don't do him justice."
"That middle session, I felt like he could've had three or four wickets going into the tea break."
Mitchell Swepson celebrates removing Babar Azam during the second Test between Australia and Pakistan. Anjum Naveed/AP
Cummins was also full of praise for Nathan Lyon, who looked the most threatening of Australia's bowlers with four second-innings wickets.
"Nath bowled beautifully as well, as he always does on Day 5s chasing a win," he said.
Despite being unable to take a 1-0 lead into the final Test, Cummins said his side would draw plenty of positives from this Test.
"Just really proud of the efforts. For an Aussie team to bat two days at the start of a Test, I don't think we've done that for a long time," he said.
"I thought the way we hunted those wickets on Day 3, the ball started reversing, I thought that was absolutely brilliant as well.
"Heaps of positives this week. I felt like we were ahead of the game the whole time and it's not always the case in foreign conditions, so really proud of the boys."
Shane Warne's life in pictures: From Victoria boy to Aussie 'Spin King'
