Top Naija News: Nigerian News, Breaking News Nigeria and World News Top Naija News is a daily news publication in Nigeria, delivering the latest breaking news in Nigeria and around the world.
Australian captain Pat Cummins will await results of scans on an injured quadriceps before deciding whether he can line up in the next Test match.
Cummins pulled up lame on day four at Perth Stadium, and he did not bowl a single over on Sunday as the Aussies clinched a 164-run win over the West Indies.
Travis Head became the unlikely star with two wickets, but it was his fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon who took 6-128 to roll the visitors with a session and a half remaining.
READ MORE: Aussies tumble in final holes as tourists win Australian Open titles
READ MORE: Brave Socceroos fall just short in epic clash
READ MORE: Keeper’s unthinkable mistake that cost Socceroos
Roston Chase (55) and Alzarri Joseph (43) provided some lower-order resistance but it was ultimately futile.
“It’s a great way to start,” Lyon said afterwards of the Test summer.
“We are playing Test cricket and these guys are some of the best players in the world, so we expect a tough fight every time we play for Australia.
“It’s about us doing our stuff and doing it well.”
While it was a convincing win for the Aussies, they will be sweating on news of Cummins’ injury.
The next match begins in Adelaide on Thursday, and the skipper admits he may not make it to the anthem.
He took the field on Sunday in Perth but opted not to bowl a single over.
“If (the game) got a little bit tighter I was going to have a bowl, but luckily it didn’t get that close,” Cummins said.
Sharp Smith catch rewards Lyon
“(The injury) feels fine, just trying to be a bit protective.
“I hope (I’ll be playing in Adelaide)… tests over the next couple of days and fingers crossed.”
If Cummins does miss out it raises an interesting captaincy question.
Steve Smith is his vice-captain and the obvious replacement.
But when Cummins sat out a one-day international against England last month, it was strangely Josh Hazlewood who got the nod as skipper.
Hazlewood had never captained the national team before, and is not a vice-captain, so his shock game-day appointment raised plenty of questions about the leadership process.
For Lyon, he is prepared to bowl more overs in Adelaide – the ground he was formerly a greenskeeper at – if Cummins isn’t fit to take part.
“It’s all about looking out for each other, so when one goes down the others have to stand up and take that little bit of workload,” Lyon said.
“I’m more than happy to do that.”
Scott Boland is the reserve fast bowler in the Test squad and could get a chance with the pink ball in Adelaide if Cummins is unfit.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
