A virus in the tourist camp threatened to delay England's first five-day game on Pakistan soil since 2005 but by stumps it was Pakistan who were feeling sick at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium as the visitors closed on 506-4.
Having reached 174-0 by lunch, the most runs scored in the first session of a Test, Crawley reached three figures early after the restart having overturned an lbw decision on review a few balls earlier.
His hundred came off just 86 balls, the fastest for an England opener, while Duckett – who returned at the top of the order for his first Test in six years – seized his opportunity to also reach three figures.
A missed sweep off Zahid Mahmood (2-160) sent Duckett (107) packing lbw and Crawley (122) soon became debutant Haris Rauf's (1-78) first Test victim.
Joe Root (23) fell cheaply after a swift half-century stand with Pope but that was Pakistan's only real spell on top as the latter piled on the runs with Brook.
Together, they made put on 176 for the fourth wicket as Pope (108) celebrated a third Test century prior to falling leg-before for Mohammad Ali's (1-96) maiden Test scalp.
Brook (101no) went on to make his first Test ton as England became the first team to make 500 runs on day one of a Test in what was a glorious display of what has become dubbed 'Bazball'.
CRAWLEY AND DUCKETT SET THE TONE
Crawley and Duckett were the perfect foil on admittedly ideal conditions for scoring, the former driving to the covers at will, while the latter swept with impeccable timing.
England have had well-documented issues at the top of the order and Duckett, playing in just his fifth Test, laid down a big marker on his return to the team.
POPE AND BROOK GO FOR THE JUGULAR
There was a very fleeting spell from Pakistan in the second session but all in all it was a day of toil for the hosts' bowling unit.
Pope was fluent throughout and Brook, who looks a star in the making, was rapid with his knock including six fours from as many balls off Saud Shakeel in the 68th over.
Brook had two maximums and 14 fours. He will return to the crease with captain Ben Stokes (34no) on Friday.
Paine stood down the Australian Test captaincy on Friday having been embroiled in a lewd text message scandal from 2017, which was investigated by CA and Cricket Tasmania in 2018.
At the time, Paine was found not to have breached CA's Code of Conduct and remained in the role as Test captain, having taken up the position earlier that year following Steve Smith's demotion in light of the sandpaper scandal.
CA chair Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley addressed the media on Saturday and stressed they were not in their current positions at the time of the investigation, thus were not across the rationale behind the decisions made but said with hindsight they were a mistake.
"Neither of us, Nick Hockley or myself, can speak directly to the decision-making process in 2018," Freudenstein said.
"This includes being able to provide any further insights around how the original judgement was made, that Tim’s behaviour did not breach the code of conduct and that it did not warrant any further disciplinary action.
"Once again, while I cannot speak about the original decision-making in 2018, what I can say is that faced with the same circumstances, and with the benefit of all relevant information about this matter, Cricket Australia would not make the same decisions today.
"I acknowledge that the decision clearly sent the wrong message to the sport, to the community and to Tim – that this kind of behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences.
"The role of Australia Captain must be held to the highest standards."
At the time of the investigation, David Peever was CA chair and James Sutherland was the organisation's CEO.
Freudenstein added: "A decision was made in 2018 and that decision was final. The details weren't known to anyone who've been on the board since that stage."
Paine follows Smith in being forced to step down from the captaincy in controversial circumstances and Hockley added that highest standards would be expected of the next skipper, expected to be Pat Cummins.
"Going forward I think it's incumbent on everybody to have the highest standards to represent Australia and particularly in a leadership position," Hockley said.
Paine was on Saturday due to play his first game of competitive cricket since neck surgery in September for University of Tasmania against South Hobart-Sandy Bay in Tasmanian club cricket but the day's play was called off due to rain.
Warner was given a one-year ban from playing elite cricket and CA ruled he could never hold an Australia leadership role again for his part in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
The opening batter challenged that ruling, but this week revealed he had withdrawn his appeal as he has no interest in "a public lynching".
Hockley says an independent review panel, which decided a hearing would be made public, was necessary in order to make the process "fair and transparent".
The CA CEO said: "We're disappointed that he's chosen to withdraw his application.
"This is not the outcome that we wanted. The fact it has become such a public thing is entirely contrary to what we were hoping to achieve.
"He could have continued with the process and an application could have been made during the hearing to ask for accredited media not to participate [in parts]. He could have just said 'I am going to withdraw, but I am not going to make a public statement'.
"I did relay that I was concerned I didn't want him to prejudice any future application with public comments. But clearly David has felt the need to say some things.
"This was not about looking at the original events or original sanction, it was about reviewing behaviour since."
Hockley added: "There is a huge amount of public interest in this, clearly, and the commissioners felt that it was appropriate for there to be a level of transparency.
"I make no apology that we've engaged with the best people, that we have best in class governance and we run a proper, fair, independent process."
Warner's agent, James Erskine, stoked the fires by claiming that two unnamed senior executives encouraged Australia players to tamper with the ball 16 months before the fiasco in Cape Town.
Hockley told SEN in response to those accusations: "They were really unhelpful and, I think, unfounded comments. I think that's totally counter to the objective of the process and I think it's precisely what David was hoping would not happen when he applied for it to be done in private.
"Some of the comments that I think have added to this situation have clearly not been [Warner's] own, they've been via representatives. So I'm really keen to see how he's going and how he's feeling following his decision to withdraw."
The Proteas and Australia were originally due to start a three-match series next month, but doubts were raised after England cut short a tour of South Africa.
Moving the matches to Perth was also talked of as an alternative if the series could not be staged in South Africa, but the Proteas have since faced Sri Lanka in two Tests on home soil.
CSA is confident South Africa will be able to host Tim Paine's side and, although no dates have been confirmed, it appears the plan is for the series to start early in March.
Zak Yacoob, the CSA interim board chairman, said in a virtual press conference on Thursday: "I had a chat with the chair of Cricket Australia [Earl Eddings] about a week ago and we agreed that the tour is going to go ahead.
"We agreed that we are going to ensure that our facilities are as good as possible, as good as necessary.
"We also agreed we learn every day but that is not on the basis that we did anything wrong when England was here because you know that none of the English were affected. That's the bottom line. They all flew back and that was fine.
"But the learning in relation to this virus changes all the time and as it changes things must change. We agreed that as professionals neither he [Eddings] nor I know anything about this.
"We have doctors, we have experts, who lead us through this process and what we have adopted is an approach that as long as the experts on both sides, true professionals in relation to coronavirus and health, agree that the facilities are fine, we go on the basis that the facilities are fine.
"So far there is between the chair of CA and myself no doubt that the series will go ahead, but we have agreed also that the coronavirus is so changing, that we cannot predict what will happen.
"If things suddenly go down for the worse and we really can't do it and our experts say we can't do it and the other experts say we can't do it, we won't be able to."
South Africa start a two-match Test series in Pakistan on January 26 and also play Three Twenty20 Internationals in their first tour of the country in 14 years.
Moroe was place on leave in December, still on full pay, following allegations of misconduct.
CSA said then that an investigation would be launched to look into a "possible failure of controls in the organisation".
However, on Friday the governing body was forced to confirm that Moroe's suspension was still in place after he "purported to report for duty".
"The board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) met last night to deliberate on the events which unfolded at the head office of CSA today (Thursday) when the suspended chief executive officer, Mr Thabang Moroe, purported to report for duty," a CSA statement read.
"The board wishes to clarify that the chief executive officer was suspended in December 2019 pending the outcome of an independent forensic investigation into management practices at Cricket South Africa.
"The letter of suspension issued to the chief executive officer explicitly stated that he was suspended until the conclusion of the independent forensic investigation.
"This investigation is not yet complete and therefore the chief executive officer remains suspended and any assertion that his suspension was for a pre-determined period is without basis.
"The forensic investigators have indicated that their report is imminent."
The 36-year-old stood down from the Australian Test captaincy having been embroiled in a lewd text message scandal from 2017, which was investigated by Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Tasmania the following year.
At the time, Paine was found not to have breached CA's code of conduct and remained as Test captain, having taken up the position in 2018 following Steve Smith's demotion in light of the sandpaper ball-tampering scandal.
An emotional Paine made his resignation announcement on Friday after learning the messages were to be revealed publicly, and Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin has questioned his treatment. Paine plays domestic cricket for Tasmania.
"The treatment afforded to the Australian Test captain by Cricket Australia has been appalling," Gaggin said. "It is clear that the anger amongst the Tasmania cricket community and general public is palpable.
"At a time when Cricket Australia should have supported Tim, he was evidently regarded as dispensable. The treatment is the worst since Bill Lawry over 50 years ago."
Lawry, who was sacked as captain ahead of the final Test of the 1970-71 Ashes series, found out about it through the media.
Cricket Australia chair Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley addressed media on Saturday and stressed they were not in their current positions at the time of the initial investigation, thus were not across the rationale behind the decisions made.
Freudenstein said: "While I cannot speak about the original decision-making in 2018, what I can say is that faced with the same circumstances, and with the benefit of all relevant information about this matter, Cricket Australia would not make the same decisions today.
"I acknowledge that the decision clearly sent the wrong message to the sport, to the community and to Tim – that this kind of behaviour is acceptable and without serious consequences. The role of Australia captain must be held to the highest standards."
At the time of the investigation, David Peever was CA chair and James Sutherland was the organisation's CEO.
Freudenstein added: "A decision was made in 2018 and that decision was final. The details weren't known to anyone who've been on the board since that stage."
Since beating Dave Cameron to the top post last year, Skerritt, who had said during his campaign that foreign coaches do not have the connection to the players that local ones do and that his administration would be providing opportunities for coaches from the region to contribute to team building, has hired three overseas coaches.
Skerritt’s administration has overseen the hiring of Coaching Education Manager, Chris Brabazon from Australia, Batting Coach Monty Desai from India, and Fielding Coach Trevor Penney from Zimbabwe.
But according to Skerritt, his administration has been forced to look overseas because of the paucity of expertise in the region and that his campaign did not mean he would not hire any coaches internationally.
“There is no reverse at all. First thing is that I didn’t say we would hire West Indian coaches only. I said we would adopt a West Indian-first policy, whereby, we would look at the individuals we have in the region, and if we cannot find the respective talent to fill those roles, then we would have to go overseas to do so,” said Skerritt in an interview with Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner.
According to Skerritt, not having the requisite expertise at the moment did not mean the Caribbean would never have these types of persons because one of the jobs of each of the persons contracted, is to coach the coaches in the region.
“These coaches have been hired with a contractual obligation to share their best practices, and this is a policy with which we are moving forward so that we can develop our local coaches. In a week’s time, Jimmy Adams and head coach Phil Simmons, as well as our CEO, Johnny Grave, will meet to further the discussion on coaching as we look to develop our game soon,” said Skerritt.
The 46-year-old was involved a single-vehicle accident at Hervey Range, approximately 50km from Townsville in Queensland.
Symonds' death continues a devastating year for Australian cricket, after the passings of legends Rod Marsh and Shane Warne from heart attacks in March.
Former Australian captain Mark Taylor said it was "another tragic day" for cricket.
"Unfortunately, I've been here too often, this year, under these circumstances," he told the Nine Network. "I can't quite believe it, to be honest. Another tragic day for cricket."
"He was an entertainer with the bat when it came to cricket and as you say he was an imposing guy, he was a big lad."
Tributes on social media flowed for the man affectionately known as "Roy", who was an instrumental figure in Australia's cricketing dominance across the Test and short-form versions of the game of the 2000s.
Former Australia teammate Adam Gilchrist wrote on Twitter how Symonds' passing "really hurts", while Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar tweeted how he was "devastated" at the news.
Michael Vaughan also posted on Twitter how it "didn't feel real", while former Australian Test captain and colleague on Fox Cricket, Allan Border, spoke on his distinct style on and off the pitch.
"He hit the ball a long way and just wanted to entertain," Border told the Nine Network. "He was, in a way, a little bit of an old-fashioned cricketer.
"He was an adventurer. Loved his fishing, he loved hiking, camping. People liked his very laid-back style.
"Symo away from the cameras and away from the spotlight, loved, I think, a bit of solitude and that is why he loved his fishing. Loved his own time."
Melbourne residents this week celebrated coming out of a sixth lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
No city in the world has been locked down more than Melbourne, but further easing of restrictions have been mapped out by the Victorian government.
There is optimism that there will be a huge attendance when Australia do battle with England in the third Test in two months' time, provided vaccination rates continue to increase.
Andrews said on Sunday: "I want to see 80,000 plus people at the Boxing Day Test on day one, that's what I want to see.
"We are determined to deliver that. It won't be easy. I think selling the tickets will be pretty easy."
A crowd of 78,113 for the Anzac Day AFL match last April was the biggest at the MCG, which can hold in excess of 100,000 people, since the start of the pandemic.
Strict lockdown restrictions will largely end from 11.59pm in Melbourne on Tuesday after no new coronavirus cases were recorded for the first time since June 9.
The state of Victoria has been in a hard lockdown for over four months, but shops, restaurants, cafes and bars will be allowed to open and outdoors contact sports can resume this week.
While Premier Andrews thinks it will be too soon for people to attend the Melbourne Cup, he expects the doors to be open for another huge event on the Australian sporting calendar.
"The Boxing Day Test of course is very different because that is some way off," he told reporters
"I am very confident that we will get a crowd at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test.
"I don't know how big it will be but there will be a crowd, that'' the advice that I have, that's what we're working towards."
The MCG is set to stage the third of four Tests against Virat Kohli's side.
India reached the close on 233-6, with Kohli making his presence felt as he reached 50 in Tests for the 50th time before being denied the chance to push on for what would have been a 28th century.
The tourists were 188-3 in the day-night contest at the Adelaide Oval when Ajinkya Rahane set off for a single but then sent Kohli, who had reached 74, back.
Captain Kohli was stranded halfway down the pitch and Josh Hazlewood's throw to the non-striker's end found Nathan Lyon waiting to end the dangerman's 180-ball stay.
It meant he was run out for a second time in his Test career, almost nine years after the previous occurrence – also against Australia in Adelaide.
His demise this time clearly rankled and Kohli briefly appeared to give his batting partner a glare of exasperation.
Prithvi Shaw was bowled by Mitchell Starc from the second delivery of the day, getting an inside edge into his stumps to give the paceman his 11th wicket in the first over of a Test since the beginning of 2014.
Mayank Agarwal was bowled by Pat Cummins, and at 32-2, India were just where Australia wanted them. Kohli helped to steady the innings, as he and Cheteshwar Pujara ground out a 68-run partnership.
Pujara had faced 147 balls without hitting a boundary, but he then took a pair of fours off Lyon from consecutive balls before falling for 43 in the spinner's next over, caught at backwards leg gully by a diving Marnus Labuschagne.
Pujara was given not out initially, but a DRS review showed a heavy touch close to the shoulder of the bat. It meant Pujara fell to Lyon for the 10th time in Tests – the most any player has been dismissed by the spinner.
Kohli is only with India for the opening Test of the four-match series, as he will return home after this match for the birth of his first child, and he was putting on a masterclass in patient scoring before his sorry dismissal.
The skipper and Rahane had put on 88, and the latter was 41 not out as Kohli trudged off. Rahane added only one more before he was pinned lbw by Starc (2-49), plumb in front of middle stump.
India surprisingly reviewed that decision, and it looked no better for them on a second viewing, the pink new ball on a collision course until it rapped into the batsman's pads.
As Rahane returned to the dressing room, television cameras showed Kohli shaking his head, with the dismissal before the close of Hanuma Vihari, lbw to Hazlewood, surely doing little to sweeten his mood.
Captain Cummins and fellow paceman Starc were lethal in the evening session as Pakistan collapsed from 214-2 to 268 all out in reply to Australia's 391 in Lahore.
The outstanding Cummins took 5-56 and Starc 4-33, with Babar Azam's side unable to contend with the reverse swing and pace they generated with the second new ball.
Abdullah Shafique (81), Azhar Ali (78) and Babar (67) had put Pakistan in a promising position, but they lost seven wickets in the final session before Australia closed on 11 without loss - leading by 134 runs.
Australia were unable to make a breakthrough in the morning session after Pakistan resumed on 90-1, Shafique and Azhar bringing up their half-centuries as they added 69 runs before lunch.
A second-wicket stand of 150 finally ended when Nathan Lyon got Shafique caught behind following a review, but Steve Smith was unable to take chances to remove Babar on 20 and Azhar, when he had 62 to his name, in the slips as the runs flowed more freely.
Azhar passed 7,000 Test runs, but Pakistan were 214-3 when Cummins took a brilliant catch off his own bowling to end his excellent knock.
Starc then cleaned up Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan as the momentum swung dramatically in Australia's favour after tea, with the magnificent Cummins also conjuring up substantial reverse swing as he saw the back of Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali and Hasan Ali to claim a five-wicket haul.
Babar was trapped leg before by Starc, who then produced a searing delivery that crashed into Naseem Shah's off stump to end Pakistan's innings with a flash. Usman Khawaja and David Warner then saw off three overs as Australia took command.
Cummins and Starc produce pace-bowling masterclass
After spending much of the day toiling with wickets hard to come by once again, Starc and Cummins were at their brilliant best late in the day.
They got the ball swinging, while also bowling perfect lengths at pace to tear through the Pakistan order, taking seven wickets for 20 runs.
Cummins became the first paceman to take a five-wicket haul in the series and his seventh in the longest format, producing a peach of a delivery that Sajid chopped on before pinning Nauman leg before and getting Hasan caught by Smith.
Pakistan crumble after trio build strong foundations
It looked like a first-innings lead was there for the taking for Pakistan courtesy of fine knocks from Shafique, Azhar and Babar.
The trio batted superbly on a good pitch, but the middle order and tail was blown away by Cummins and Starc, with three batters falling without scoring and Rizwan only making one.
Paine sensationally resigned in shame on Friday and was reduced to tears as he apologised for being embroiled in a sexting scandal.
The wicketkeeper, who is married with two children, revealed the decision was based on an explicit text exchange with a female former Cricket Tasmania colleague in 2017.
Vice-captain Cummins is expected to take over from Paine, who will still be available for selection to face England.
Former Australia skipper Waugh endorsed paceman Cummins to step up.
"Pat Cummins is definitely the front-runner to lead the side in Brisbane for the first Test, he's the vice-captain and there is a lot of talk of him taking over Tim Paine sooner or later even without this incident. So, I think he is the logical choice," Waugh told WA Today.
"For the vice-captain, I don't know, someone like a Steve Smith might be a good vice-captain, he's experienced."
Mark Taylor is another ex-Australia captain to back Cummins for the role three years after Smith's reign as skipper ended due to the Newlands ball-tampering scandal.
"I think CA [Cricket Australia] will probably want to go for someone fresh and clean. The timing will make it a more comfortable decision for CA to make Pat the captain," Taylor told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
"It will be hard to go back after another controversy to Steve. I know Pat very well, he's a terrific fella. I think it is harder for a quick bowler to be captain. In terms of leadership he will be very good because he’s a good, solid human being."
Australia batter Travis Head thinks Cummins would be a good appointment.
"Obviously Pat’s been well spoken about, named as vice-captain, it's hard to go past him, or give him the opportunity to," he said.
"He's someone who oozes leadership, not only in the way he presents himself and speaks and the way he goes about things and the way he trains, but also when he's on the field."
Warner failed twice as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 132 runs in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar series in Nagpur.
The 36-year-old had eased the pressure on himself by scoring a magnificent double century in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at the MCG, and Australia captain Cummins has given his backing to the left-hander.
He said on the eve of the second Test at Arun Jaitley Stadium: "I'm not a selector. I don't think they've had a meeting but I'm sure Davey will be there.
"You saw at the Boxing Day Test when he puts pressure back on the opposition, he's pretty hard to bowl to. You don't get as many bad balls, so he knows that. I'm sure that'd be part of his plan.
"He has been batting really well here. Even in the lead-up, I thought he was fantastic. I know there's a lot of talk about spin bowling through the middle but with that new ball it's sometimes the hardest time to bat as well."
There remains uncertainty over whether paceman Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Cameron Green will be fit to take their place in the side in Delhi on Friday.
The duo have been out with finger injuries and Cummins says the tourists are mulling over their options, with Starc potentially overlooked in favour of a third spinner as Matthew Kuhnemann stands by to make his debut and Ashton Agar awaits his chance.
Asked about playing three spinners, Cummins said: "I think there's a conversation. We'll work that out by the end of today, I hope.
"[Starc] is one of the world's premier bowlers in these types of conditions. We'll see. The wicket looks like it might turn a little bit. I thought last week with two pacers, that attack functioned quite well, but I think whether it's Starcy, another spinner, Scott [Boland], variety in the attack does help."
Cummins said of Green: "Having a right-hander helps and him providing our fifth bowling option also helps. He's a big player. It certainly helps the team function well from batting and bowling.
"You have got to be able to perform as well. He's still coming back from that injury. He's only had [one] session where he's catching with a hard ball. He had a really good session yesterday. We will see how he pulls up."
Former opener Langer guided his country to T20 World Cup success last November before overseeing a 4-0 Ashes thrashing of England across December and January.
However, the 51-year-old rejected a short-term extension on his contract, which was due to expire in June, and resigned as head coach of Australia last week.
Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja and Shane Warne headed a host of names in Australian cricket to question the treatment of Langer, who has recently been linked with the vacant England head coach role.
But Cummins responded by emphasising his defence of his team-mates and Cricket Australia on Wednesday as he addressed the matter for the first time with a statement and later at a news conference.
The fast bowler wrote: "Justin has acknowledged that his style was intense. And it was. He has apologised to players and staff for his intensity.
"I think the apology was unnecessary because the players were okay with JL's intensity. It came from a good place - his fierce love of Australia and the baggy green - something which has served Australian cricket well for three decades.
"I take this responsibility seriously. I live and breathe it. We also have a duty to our mates. Many former players have reached out to me and silently offered me their advice, which is welcome.
"Some others have spoken in the media – which is also welcome and comes from a love of the game and their support of a mate.
"To all past players, I want to say this: Just as you have always stuck up for your mates, I'm sticking up for mine."
Cummins, who also explained it would not have been right for him to make "public comment" on the topic earlier, praised Langer's efforts, though he is now looking forward to a new era of Australian cricket.
"I think this group looking forward, a few things through the review process we really wanted and found important to get the best out of our players is I think the players benefit from a more collaborative approach," Cummins told reporters.
"A big theme this summer was to be more calm, more composed. That's been the feedback from the players, staff and Cricket Australia that that's the direction we want to take the team.
"I think he tweaked and changed quite a bit. He deserves a lot of credit for that. I think the question then became do we think that it's sustainable. We thought it is the right time to make a change.
"I think some of these skill sets are perhaps a little bit different to perhaps his traditional coaching style.
"I think he tweaked his coaching style in the last six months and did a really good job, but we think now is the right time for a different direction. It's a matter of opinion but we think it's the right one."
Andrew McDonald has been promoted from assistant coach in the interim and is expected to lead Australia when they tour Pakistan in March.
The hosts were denied a clean sweep in the three-match series after they tied with the Proteas at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, with a rain-affected match hampering their hopes of a win.
Australia had two catches overturned by third umpire Richard Kettleborough after the ball was judged to have touched the ground following numerous replays, while South Africa were also denied the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne on day one in the same manner.
Cummins was less than impressed with the process, though refused to blame Kettleborough and instead speculated over what could be done to help the third umpire.
"I don't really know the answers, but there has to be a way to try and improve it somehow," he said. "As it currently stands, it's really hard to give a batter out.
"If there's any kind of benefit of the doubt, it goes the batter's way. I think with a couple of camera angles really slowed down, it's pretty hard not to find doubt somewhere.
"I do feel for Ketts a little bit up there. Maybe there's more cameras we can use down the track. Surely there can be some small changes we can make."
Steve Smith, who was denied a catch for the second time in the game after Heinrich Klaasen was edged to him off Nathan Lyon, echoed his captain's sentiments.
"Yesterday, I was a bit more uncertain than today," he added. "I was pretty certain I got underneath the one today.
"I think those ones that are close to the turf always don't look great. But today I felt the slap on my fingers and I knew I was under the ball."
India great Sunil Gavaskar told the Daily Telegraph he expected the tourists to target Will Pucovski with the short ball after the batsman was hit in the helmet by a bouncer during a tour game.
Pucovski, 22, suffered mild concussion symptoms, which have put him in some doubt for the opening Test beginning in Adelaide next week, even with David Warner (adductor) ruled out.
But while Cummins said Australia liked to use the short ball at home, he cannot see a bouncer war being a major feature of the series.
"I'm not sure about that. For someone like Will, he's been hearing that for a couple of years. Scoring two double centuries back-to-back, I think he can handle that pretty well," he told reporters on Friday.
"If that happens then good luck, us bowlers will worry about what we want to do. Of course, it's a weapon that we like to use. Of course, here in Australia as well, slightly bouncier wickets, try to push the batter back.
"We'll see what happens. I can't see it being too much of a headline grabber this summer."
Cummins, 27, has been touted as a potential future captain of Australia, with Test skipper Tim Paine having celebrated his 36th birthday on Tuesday.
Backed by former captain Michael Clarke, Cummins said it was nice to receive the support.
"He's been a great supporter for me my whole career really. Yeah, great to hear from a really well-respected captain," he said.
"I loved having him as a captain when I played, I feel like he made me walk taller in my early years when I was still trying to find my feet. Having an ex-captain who has been there and done that, as a vote of confidence, that's nice.
"Of course, it means absolutely nothing because we've got some great captains at the moment, but very kind words.
"Speaking to a few people, out of all the formats potentially Tests are the easiest for a bowler to captain. Obviously you're going to be busy and putting in a lot of effort into bowling, but there's a bit more time that is afforded to you. The game moves at a slightly softer pace. I know there haven't been too many bowling captains, but I don't understand why it has to be a batter."
The tourists backed spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson despite both bowling in excess of 50 overs in the second innings of the second Test which ended in a draw on Wednesday.
Conditions are expected to be similar in Lahore as they were in the previous two Tests with Karachi and Rawalpindi, where only 42 wickets fell overall.
"We were really happy with how all 11 players went last Test," Cummins told reporters on Sunday.
"Everyone has pulled up really well. We gave them an extra couple of days to make sure everyone has come up good. But there's no injury worries, everyone is freshened up, so we're confident in the XI.
"Only having two quick bowlers, I think reverse swing is going to be a big factor and the way Starcy played last game was fantastic.
"It's always tough leaving out someone like Joshy [Josh Hazlewood], even Scotty Boland. But the class and the difference Starcy brings as a left-armer, a bit more air speed, we think that's the best chance to take 20 wickets."
Cummins added that he felt Australia could take the necessary 20 wickets needed to win the third Test, having created chances that were not taken in Karachi as Pakistan resolutely batted out more than 171 overs to hold on for a draw.
"I think what's been clear... is the way we've gone about it is the right way," he said. "I've been really happy with how everyone has gone about their work (and) the tactics. I think it's just a matter of taking those chances.
"Wickets are at a premium in this series so you can't afford to drop too many chances. We created more than 10 chances [in Karachi], we just unfortunately didn't take them, so that's going to be the challenge this week."
The tourists took a first-innings lead of 109 at the Galle International Stadium on Friday before bowling Sri Lanka out for only 113.
Nathan Lyon took 4-31 after claiming a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and part-time spinner Travis Head, who had never taken a Test wicket, claimed stunning figures of 4-10 as Sri Lanka folded.
Mitchell Swepson took the other two wickets, and after being set only five runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, David Warner hit Ramesh Mendis for four and then six inside the first over to seal an emphatic victory.
Australia captain Cummins said: "A couple of new words we're using about our approach is about being proactive and being brave.
"We saw some really clear methods from all the batters. They might have been individually a bit different, but you saw everyone being really proactive and putting pressure back on the bowlers. It's something you'd normally talk about in one-day cricket or T20 cricket. But I think that's the style over here that's needed."
He added: "I think it's part of the environment that we are trying to create. Failure is absolutely okay, as long as you are failing in a way you are happy to be."
The paceman lavished praise on spinner Lyon, who moved into the top 10 on the list of all-time leading Test wicket-takers by taking his tally to 436.
"I wouldn't change Lyon for anyone," Cummins said. "He's gone into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time. You saw him out there. He's unplayable for left or right-handers.
"Sometimes out here, bounce for spinners is spoken about [as] something that's not desirable, but he showed here with that bounce he was unplayable. His stamina as well – you give him the ball from one end and say see you at the end of the day."
Australia captain Cummins has confirmed leg-spinner Swepson will play when the two-match series gets under way at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.
Swepson made his debut in the longest format during the series victory in Pakistan in March, taking two wickets in as many matches.
With Ashton Agar ruled out due to side strain and Jon Holland nursing a finger injury, the 28-year-old will get another opportunity in a Test that will be dedicated to the late, great Shane Warne four months after he tragically passed away.
Skipper Cummins said: "We're really happy with Swepo. He is bowling beautifully and really ready for this one.
"These conditions … it's quite different to what we experience in Australia. That's the challenge of trying to win overseas.
"A lot of our preparation work has been around trusting our own methods. We might go about it a little bit differently to how Sri Lanka will."
The paceman added: "I think his role here might be slightly different as well. Pakistan we knew was going to be a slow grind and I thought he did his job despite not taking the wickets he would like. He was a really important cog in that bowling engine.
"It's always exciting having a leggie in the side as a captain. It feels like a real luxury to throw him the ball and see him go about it."
Glenn Maxwell could provide another spin option along with first-choice tweaker Nathan Lyon if Travis Head misses out with a hamstring injury.
If World Test Championship leaders Australia take a 1-0 lead in their quest to win the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy, it will be their 400th Test victory. However, Sri Lanka have won each of their past three Tests against Australia on home soil.
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh 1-0 away from home in their last Test series under new head coach Chris Silverwood.
Sri Lanka looking to put Australia in a spin
Captain Dimuth Karunaratne suggested Sri Lanka will select three spinners, with the uncapped Jeffrey Vandersay called up after impressing in a 3-2 ODI series win over Australia.
Lasith Embuldeniya, Praveen Jayawickrama and Ramesh Mendis are the other tweakers in the squad.
Sri Lanka have won eight of their past 12 Tests at Galle International Stadium, including the previous two.
Landmark Test for in-form Khawaja
Usman Khawaja has had a new lease of life since he was recalled during the 4-0 Ashes hammering of England.
The left-handed batter is set to play in his 50th Test in Galle on the back of an outstanding series in Pakistan - scoring two centuries and making 97 in the first Test.
Khawaja has an average of just 28.4 against Sri Lanka – his second lowest against any team he's played more than one Test against.
