Aussies abroad: Cummins, Warner, Stoinis among the runs in the IPL, Bird Cook-ed again
A number of Australian players have headed overseas for the winter to play in the IPL and county cricket. Here is how they are faring so far
David Warner made 61 off 45 on Sunday in the IPL • BCCI
In Jackson Bird's last Test match for Australia in 2017 he had to bowl 30 overs on a lifeless MCG pitch as Alastair Cook piled up 244 not out across 10 hours of batting. Bird faced Cook for the first time in five years as Kent took on Essex on a highway in Chelmsford in the opening round of the County Championship and Cook piled up his 70th first-class century, batting for two minutes shy of six hours. Bird got his revenge, dismissing Cook for 100. He took 3 for 85 from 28 overs as Essex piled up 514 before Kent replied with 581 in a tame draw. Bird also cashed in with the bat, smacking 53 not out off 46 balls - including eight runs off Cook's solitary over of medium pace - to register his fourth first-class half-century.
Nathan Coulter-Nile has returned home to Australia after suffering a side strain while playing for Rajasthan Royals.
It's not often the world's No.1-ranked Test bowler produces a 14-ball fifty with the bat. Cummins' pyrotechnics for Knight Riders showcased his tremendous development as a power-hitter in the IPL. It was his third IPL half-century and he strikes at 154.73 in IPL, and 141.72 overall in T20s, increasing his already enormous value.
Alex Malcolm is an Associate Editor at ESPNcricinfo