Cummins is one of the most durable cricketers in world cricket right now having missed only two test jaunts in 2018 since making his comeback in 2014.
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Cricket Australia is set to announce the new test captain for the men’s team ahead of the Ashes series beginning in Brisbane on December 8 following the sensational resignation of Tim Paine because of his involvement in a sexting scandal. Australia pacer James Pattinson believes Cummins has all the cricketing attributes to become Australia’s test captain and if he is given the opportunity he would make an “unbelievable” leader. Despite Australia’s reluctance in naming fast bowlers as captains over the years Cummins is the frontrunner to lead the side in the future.
Many of the former players and experts like Shane Warne, Michael Clarke, Adam Gillcrist and even the current England pacer James Anderson feels that the 28-year-old is the best option to lead the Kangaroos. He is young but has enough experience, plays all three formats, not injury prone and more importantly has got a great cricketing brain. Meanwhile Cummins has been the deputy to Paine over the last few years.
“He’d (Cummins) be unbelievable. He’s got everything, got all the attributes of an Australian captain,” Pattinson was quoted as saying by news.com.au on Tuesday evening after the conclusion of a Sheffield Shield match.
“He’s a calm head that’s exactly what I think we need. He’s got everything. He’s got the attributes of an Australian captain. He’s got a calm head, he’s very smart and he’s got a good cricket brain. He’s got a lot of friends in that group. He’s just a great person,” added Pattinson.
Meanwhile, former captain Steve Smith’s name is also considered for the captaincy role. However because of the 32-year-old batsman’s involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018 in South Africa it is unlikely that he would get the nod ahead of Cummins. Smith had captained Australia in 93 games in all formats including 34 tests before being banned from cricket for two years.
Cummins, on the other hand, is inexperienced as captain and it was only recently that he was appointed as the captain of New South Wales for the Mash Cup. However Cummins’ clean image on and off the field along with his soft spoken nature makes him the number one choice for the high-profile job.
Ray Lidwall was the last pacer to captain the Australian test team in a one test match 1956. Australia generally don’t consider fast bowlers for the captains role because fast bowling is a tireless job and they tend to get injured quite often therefore they may miss a lot of action. However Cummins is an exception as he is considered one of the most durable cricketers in world cricket having missed only two test jaunts in Dubai in 2018 since making his comeback in 2014.
“I know it’s probably gone against the grain to have a fast bowler, but he’s the one guy who probably over the last two years has really dominated for Australia. Just the way he plays with passion and him as a person is someone you want as a leader as a group. He brings a team with him as well. You go out there with him and he sets the example he brings people with him.”
