Pat Cummins takes over from Mitchell Starc in the third Test

Australia suffered a massive blow to their hopes of winning the third Test match at Ranchi in the ongoing four-match Test series against India. Mitchell Starc who was quite possibly the frontman in the Australian bowling line-up had been ruled out of the remaining part of the Test series on 10th March, as the violent speedster was pinpointed with a fractured foot.

However, the injury to Starc has opened the way for another Australian pacer who had a bright Test future on the cards. 23-year-old Pat Cummins has been handed the opportunity to make use of Starc’s absence and make his mark back into the Test side. Mitchell Starc has been sent back home as his situation is considered to be a serious one, recognised with a stress fracture in his right foot.

Pat Cummins did not have luck on his side throughout his career though he grabbed the Man of the Match award in his Test debut against South Africa at the Wanderers in 2011 and has not played a Test since. But the loss of a fellow teammate has turned out to be a profitable situation for the right arm bowler.

Cummins, whose pace and agility had impressed everyone in the cricketing world, delivered a brilliant performance with the ball in his debut Test picking up 7 for 117, before falling victim to several injury concerns. Stress fractures in his back completely broke down the bowler and took him out of the international scene.

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Cummins came inches close to making a return to the Test side during the Ashes tour in 2015 when Ryan Harris decided to retire suddenly and Starc was moved to the bench due to injury. But somehow the young Aussie did not get a chance to prove himself and was restricted to the limited overs game.

Cummins returned to Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time since March 2011 this week when he played for New South Wales in their win over South Australia at the SCG, bowling with pace and accuracy to capture 8-104 and also contribute a handy 42 with the bat.

Pat Cummins has similarities with Mitchell Starc on the fact that both are out and out bowlers and loves to strike early. Cummins also has the ability to generate raw pace like Starc which can be a danger to any batsman at the start of an innings. It is quite possible that this is the reason the selectors turned to Cummins to fill up the vacant spot despite his poor form in first class cricket. The bowler is expected to take the new ball with Josh Hazlewood when the third Test gets underway in Ranchi against the Indians from 16th March.

“It’s unfortunate to lose Mitch out of the squad in India,” selection panel chair Trevor Hohns said today. “In selecting Pat, we were looking for a strike bowling replacement option. “Pat has impressed in his return to cricket this summer with consistent performances in his ODI, Twenty20 International and Big Bash matches. “He has also had a very good Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales, after six years off, where he made a notable Shield best 4-57 in the first innings, before bettering those figures in the second innings with 4-47 in his man-of-the-match performance.”

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It will be a huge challenge for Cummins, as he is completely a fresher to Indian pitches and has no experience whatsoever in India. The fast bowler has played 28 ODIs and 18 T20 internationals thus far.