Pat Cummins Would Be Ready If He’s Appointed Skipper And Is Backed By Travis Head

Nov 21, 2021 at 12:57 PM

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Pat Cummins Would Be Ready If He’s Appointed Skipper And Is Backed By Travis Head

Pat Cummins wasn’t even thinking about captaining Australia in the Ashes 2021/22 even three days ago as Tim Paine neared full fitness after neck surgery and was getting ready for return as skipper for Ashes before the off-field scandal emerged. But the Australian vice-captain also declared he would be “ready” if thrust into the hot seat for the opening Test at the Gabba, words that now take on a lot greater meaning.

He has been backed for the role by Australian middle-order batsman and Ashes squad member Travis Head. Travis Head was in the middle of a press conference when it was revealed Tim Paine was quitting the Test captaincy; after revelations, he was being investigated by Cricket Australia for sending explicit text messages to a Cricket Tasmania staff member.

Australia Test skipper Tim Paine (Photo | AP)
Australia Test skipper Tim Paine (Photo | AP)

Cricket Australia chairman Richard Freudenstein said the Cricket Australia board would now “work through a process” before endorsing the next captain.

“Tim felt it was in the best interests of his family and Australian cricket to take this decision to step down as captain,” Freudenstein said.

“The board has accepted Tim’s resignation and will now work through a process with the national selection panel of identifying and appointing a new captain.”

Cricket Australia has accepted Tim Paine’s apology and has confirmed that the wicket-keeper will be available to play in the Ashes 2021/22.

Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates during a match against England in the 2019 Ashes, in London. File photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Australia’s Pat Cummins celebrates during a match against England in the 2019 Ashes in London. File photograph: Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Travis Head said it wasn’t easy to answer questions on the Tim Paine situation given he had only just learned about it but suggested Pat Cummins was the likely replacement. Pat Cummins, who has been the Test vice-captain since 2019 and the deputy in all three forms of the game, would be just the second fast bowler to lead Australia if he’s appointed.

“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’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,” Head said.

On his return from winning the T20 World Cup in Dubai, Pat Cummins, who is also the NSW one-day captain, was asked if he was ready to step up should Tim Paine be unavailable for any reason.

“I guess so. I’ve been in the role for a couple of years now. I’ll be ready if I have to, but I doubt that,” he said on Tuesday, well before news of Paine’s resignation.

Pat Cummins dismissed any concerns over the workload of being a bowler and captain.

“I think it’s something you have got to be aware of,” he said.

“If I was in the role and I found it tough at times, there’s 10 other guys I would lean on out in the middle. You have guys like Smithy (Steve Smith) and Davey Warner who are incredibly experienced and experienced bowlers who look after themselves. I wouldn’t have an issue handballing it over to other people to help out.”

The wicket-keeper batsman stepped down as skipper after he was found to be texting explicit content to a female co-worker four years ago. With the incident resurfacing and an investigation being probed by Cricket Australia, Tim Paine chose to vacate the role of Test team captain ahead of the Ashes 2021/22.

Steve Waugh Would Like To See Pat Cummins Being Appointed Skipper

Last week, legendary Test captain Steve Waugh said “it’s time” for a bowler to be given the Australian captaincy and endorsed pacer Pat Cummins to take over from tainted Tim Paine.

“I’d like to see Pat Cummins have an opportunity,” Waugh said on Wednesday

“They say bowlers can’t do it, but they said keepers couldn’t do it. I think we have to find out if a bowler can be a captain of Australia. I don’t see why not.”

Steve Waugh---- AFP
Steve Waugh—- AFP

Steve Waugh said pacer Pat Cummins, who is now 28 and has played 128 games for Australia across all formats, including 34 Tests, had the right “acumen” to be a successful leader.

“I’ve always thought that if he’s bowling, the vice-captain could set the field to give him a mental break,” Waugh told SEN.

“He has good acumen, the respect of the players and he’s ready to go. I think when Tim Paine steps down, Pat Cummins is the man to step in.”

Ray Lindwall was the first fast bowler to captain Australia in 1956 for one match. Meanwhile, batsman Travis Head also backed his Redbacks teammate and Australia A keeper Alex Carey as a potential positional replacement for keeper Tim Paine.

“(Carey’s) got a great opportunity in the A tour, it’s great to see him in that squad, he’s deserved that squad, he probably hasn’t started the season as well as he’d like, but the way he’s hitting the ball, the way he’s moving and how he’s working at training is great to see,” Head said.

“I think the A tour game will be a fantastic opportunity for him. I think he’ll take that opportunity, he is really close to getting a big score and he’s working extremely hard, but he’s in a great space as well.

“He’s keeping exceptionally well, his keeping has never been an issue for Alex, and he’s working extremely hard on his batting, so fingers crossed he gets plenty of runs in the inter-squad game (from December 1 at Redlands Cricket Club) and then the A game.”

Tim Paine’s captaincy and his wicket-keeping standards have come under severe criticism ever since India thrashed hosts Australia 2-1 in the 4 match Test series Down Under. Tim Paine has led his country to 11 wins, four draws, and eight defeats. Under Tim Paine’s leadership, Australia had retained the Ashes and won 11 of 23 matches but had lost two successive home Test series to India.

Pat Cummins has been tremendous for Australia, whereas he is also the no.1 ranked ICC Test bowler. Pat Cummins has scalped 164 test wickets in just 34 games at an average of 21.60. It will be interesting to see a pacer leading the Australian side in the Ashes 2021/22.

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