Double Aussie B'Days

Two Aussie cricketers are celebrating their birthdays today. One known for finishing and saving the match with a bat while the other is known for finishing and saving the match with a ball. Both of them have done many to bring greatest cricketing standards for Australia and one funny fact is that they both haven't played together, all along in a playing XI. Also, both have an age difference of 23 Years.

Michael Bevan - May 8, 1970

                                                    On this day, 1970 Michael Bevan was born at Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory. His career lasted for a period of only ten years, but in this ten years, he made a great impact in the Australian Cricket Team. He made his ODI debut in Austral - Asia Cup, 1994 at Sharjah. He was known for his finishing abilities. He usually plays at lower middle order, and done the role of finishing the matches on a great stage. At many occasions, when he comes into bat, usually the situation would be more tense as they might have lost early wickets. He comes in and anchors the innings and saves the day. At many matches, he won the game for his side, single handedly, by playing with the tailenders, with the likes of Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Mcgrath etc. In the modern cricket, many players very starting to emerge as finisher, especially the all rounders, but on those days, he was the one who did this role for 10 years and also being a batsman he proved that having a pure batsman at the lower order will surely be an asset. A left handed batsman, who isn't got praised much for his technique but for his finishing skills. Due to him, all rounders were promoted up the order, while making a pure batsman to stand and play at lower order. At some innings, he was also asked to play at bit higher up the order and he did it with perfection. Also, opponents knew that leaving him is so dangerous to victory and try to snap his wicket. One of his famous innings were against West Indies at Sydney, where Australia were chasing 173 at 43 overs, being at 38/6 at one stage, and Michael Bevan single handedly won the match by one wicket in the last ball of the match. At 2003 World Cups, he saved the game twice, one against England, and one against New Zealand and against England, Australia were struggling at 135/8 needing 70 more runs to win. He and Andy Bichel joined together and won the match. In playing 232 ODI matches, he scored 6,912 runs at an average of 53 and scored 46 fifties and 6 hundreds, with highest score of 108*. He made his retirement in 2007, three years after his absence in his national side. In test cricket, he didn't have much great career left in him as his numbers were poor.

Pat Cummins - May 8, 1993

                                                            Pattrick James Cummins was born at New Kingsmead, Australia in 1993. He made his international cricket career at the age of 18, during 2011. He made his debut as a tall right arm fast bowler. He is the Pure Fast bowler. He bowls casually at a speed of 140 - 145 kmph, with easily bowling threatening bouncers to all batsman out there in the world. He can swing in both directions. Also a good innovative bowler, who bowls according to the field placed by the captain. In test cricket, particularly at Australian wickets, he is the deadliest ever the opponents would face. At some instances, he would bowling with allowing to slips to stand and he bowls just the perfect length to nick the wicket. He was named as Test Cricketer of the Year by ICC in the year 2020. But, the problem he faced in the course of 9 years is his prone to injury. He got dropped many instances due to injuries particularly hamstring and his back injuries. Playing 30 test matches he picked up 143 wickets, with four times 5 wicket in an innings at a best of 6/23. In One Day International, he played 64 matches, picking up 105 wickets at a best figures of 5/70. Although, he had many injuries, he was featured in all ICC events, particularly was in his best at 2019 World Cup.