Pat Cummins takes a subtle dig at the conditions for the India vs England Tests

After wrapping up a series win against the West Indies in the Caribbean, Australia skipper Pat Cummins reflected on the ongoing India vs England series. Australia has won two of the three Tests against the West Indies. Following their latest victory, a 133-run win in Grenada, Cummins was asked about the Edgbaston Test. Led by the young Shubman Gill, the visitors thrashed England by 336 runs to win their first-ever Test in Birmingham and level the series. The conditions in the series, observed across Leeds and Birmingham, have been dead. While Cummins mentioned not following the proceedings extensively, he took a subtle dig at the flat wickets in England.

"Who would want to be a bowler there?": Pat Cummins reacts to the India vs England Test at Edgbaston

The Indian side is basking in widespread acclaim after securing a dominant 336-run victory in the Edgbaston Test, leveling the five-match series at 1-1. The spotlight was firmly on Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, and skipper Shubman Gill, who delivered match-winning performances to humble Bazball on their home turf. Despite India's clinical showing, much of the discussion has centered around the nature of the pitches used in the India vs England series, with many experts voicing concerns about their bowler-unfriendly character.

Weighing in on the debate, Australian captain Pat Cummins took a cheeky swipe at the Edgbaston surface following his team’s 133-run triumph over West Indies in Grenada. Reflecting on the conditions faced by bowlers in the India vs England series, Cummins questioned if any bowler would be interested in playing at such surfaces, a subtle jab at how flat the pitches have been. Moreover, Cummins highlighted the pitch in Grenada, noting that it provided substantial assistance to the fast bowlers, a stark difference from the batting-friendly conditions at Edgbaston.

"I wasn't. Probably Marnus was. We'll keep an eye on that series. Who would want to be a bowler over there? Not surprised with the fact that it was the third flattest wicket over there in the history of England cricket," Cummins said, reacting to the Edgbaston Test. 

"Look, Test cricket over here as compared to Test cricket over there, looks like two different sports. Looks like it is going to be good series over there. 1-1. Didn't watch a lot of it but saw the scores," he added.

England skipper Ben Stokes also commented on the Edgbaston wicket, expressing surprise at how it evolved. According to him, the surface began to behave like a subcontinent track in the later stages of the match, favouring India as the game moved into Days 4 and 5. Since embracing their aggressive Bazball style, England has regularly prepared flatter wickets, which tend to favour batters and diminish any edge for the bowlers. However, that's England doing and the conditions can't wash away India's brilliance at Edgbaston.