Pat Cummins' chances for selection on India tour bleak

Australia’s enigmatic pace bowler Pat Cummins might miss out on the India tour next year. The same was hinted when Cricket Australia High Performance manager Pat Howard spoke about the injury plagued speedster recently. Cummins has made sporadic appearances for the national side but is yet to play regularly in the longest format. Cricket Australia has had a very protective approach towards the pacer.

They intend to keep him fit and active for the Ashes next summer. The same was reiterated when Howard spoke at length about Cummins and James Pattinson recently. Talking about the India tour, Howard mentioned that the selection panel needs to have a look at the right kind of bowlers for the subcontinental tracks. He cited the example of the likes of Jason Gillespie finding success when Australia toured in 2004.

“You look back at the sort of bowlers and combinations needed for that tour. Jason Gillespie was our most successful bowler of the 2004 tour. You have to look at the strike bowler or the workhorse,” said Howard.

His remarks have almost ruled out Pat Cummins out of the equation for the India tour. He further reflected that the 23-year-old can either feature in the India tour or the Ashes. He mentioned that the pacer needs to play a few Shield matches to get ‘Test ready’.

“There’s the decision between whether or not it is India or the Ashes. And before that you’d need one or two Shield games to be get back in,” he added in an exclusive with the ABC Radio.

He said that the team management is keen on taking it series by series. They are currently waiting to see how he shapes up in the Big Bash League and then take a call from there on. Cummins played his only Test way back in 2011.

Another pacer who is facing injury concerns is James Pattinson. Talking about Pattinson, Howard said that the management is keeping a close eye on his recovery. Also, they will not push for a hasty recovery and compromise with the promising talent.

“He makes a real difference. But we have a duty of care to look after him. And our conversations with Cummins and Pattinson are about the long game,” he concluded. Earlier, former speedster Brett Lee had reckond that India tour is the best time to unleash Pat Cummins in the long run.

“Absolutely in my opinion. Whether they will or not, there’s a lot of red flagging going on about players being on the cusp of getting injured. I’m sick of reading about that to be honest. If they’re not prepared to play him take him in the team, let him bowl in the nets and just bowl and bowl and bowl,” Brett Lee had quoted.