Skipper Cummins defends late declaration call

Pat Cummins at the SCG yesterday. Pic/Getty Images

Australia skipper Pat Cummins defended his decision to delay a team declaration after being denied a fourth straight Test win by plucky England in Sydney on Sunday.

The battered English team defended desperately in the final overs to cling on for a draw with just one wicket left.

The question asked after the gripping finish to the fourth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground was: Did Cummins, in his first series as captain, leave his declaration too late on Saturday when Australia had amassed a massive lead? Australia declared at 265 for six, leaving the tourists with a massive 388 runs to win.

The best fourth innings winning chase at the SCG is 288-2 by Australia against South Africa in 2006. "I wanted about three-and-a-half runs an over," Cummins told reporters.

"The wicket was still not playing too many tricks and I thought if they batted really well 350 was pretty achievable out there. I thought 110 overs was enough time." In the end, Australia came up just short of victory after controlling virtually all of the match.

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