Michael Clarke backs Pat Cummins to captain Australia in all three formats

Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke reckons that Pat Cummins has the potential to captain the national team across all three formats. The 27-year-old speedster recently became the Player of the Series in the Tests against India that the hosts lost 1-2 after taking a 1-0 lead following their thumping victory at the iconic Adelaide Oval.

In four Tests, Cummins picked up 21 wickets with four four-wicket hauls to show for his efforts. Clarke, the 2015 World Cup-winning Aussie skipper, reckons that Cummins has been someone, who has always put his hands up for his team in critical situations.

We very clearly got a good glimpse at the type of character Pat Cummins is: Clarke

“Pat Cummins just showed us he’s ready. Whatever you throw at this Australian team and at Pat Cummins, he’s ready. He’s shown his character; the man of the series in a series that you just got beaten by, at one stage, India’s second-string team.

“Pat Cummins, he is the one player that did stand up for Australia, so I think we very clearly got a good glimpse at the type of character Pat Cummins is,” Clarke was quoted as saying in Sportskeeda.

Tim Paine has come under scrutiny for not being to lead the Aussies successfully in the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Bearing in mind, Paine’s form, Clarke reckons that Cummins is the apt candidate for the captain’s role. Clarke also said that Cummins need enough support from the senior members in the national team.

“If they’re going to go the way [where] Tim Paine’s time is up, we’re bringing in a few new, younger players, then I’m cool with that, but Pat Cummins is the leader. Cummins is that captain,” he stated.

“If Pat Cummins is going to take over the captaincy, he’s going to need senior players like Smithy, like Davey Warner, like Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon; he’s going to need these guys to have his back as well,” Clarke added.

Cummins is, for the time being, ICC’s number-one ranked Test bowler. The fact that Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for INR 15.5 crores for the 2020 Indian Premier League shows how much value he carries. In his international career, the pacer already has 412 wickets to his name.