West Indies fast bowler Miguel Cummins speaks about maiden Test wicket and his role in the side
West Indian fast bowler Miguel Cummins had to wait 280 balls before taking his first Test wicket but was quick to admit that his job was to "build pressure". In his second Test, Cummins finally managed to pick up a wicket and eventually finished with three wickets as India were bowled out for 355.
Speaking about his debut Test and his role in the side, Cummins said: “For me, the debut Test was very tough, because I was playing for the first time so nerves took in. Was fighting a long way, fighting hard, hard, hard. Came today, saw the [other] guys take wickets but didn't let that fluster me. I tried looking for wickets but my job was to build pressure.
"We've our two fast bowlers and me being the third. They had their bursts and then it was time for me to hit my line and be consistent and to keep the pressure up for those who came to bowl next, even the spinners so they can take wickets.”
After the second day of the third Test at St Lucia, West Indies are firmly in the game after they dismissed India for 353 despite a 213-run sixth wicket partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha. Cummins praised the bowling effort of the hosts.
Speaking about the partnership that almost took the game away, the 25-year-old said: "They are a very talented batting line-up but we stuck to our plans. But can't take anything away from Ashwin and Saha, they batted very well. We had to keep fighting when they had the partnership."
The hosts got rid of the lower order with a barrage of short balls and Cummins said bowling short alone wasn't the plan.
"The plan was not to bowl short [exclusively] but mix it up," Cummins said. "Ashwin normally sits on the back foot, lot of guys sit on the back foot. So our plan was to get some balls [pitched] up and let them drive and then use the short-pitched stuff."
Speaking about the hosts chances of winning the Test, Cummins was hopeful but was not ready to get carried away. "First things first, we got to take each day one at a time. And to build on our position. I can't give you one guarantee but hopefully we'll stick to our plans and come out victorious," the 25-year-old fast bowler said.