Pat Cummins to skip T20I series against India for Ashes

Pace spearhead of Australia, Pat Cummins has decided to skip T20 International series against India to prepare for Ashes. The selectors have decided to rest Cummins after the fifth ODI in Nagpur in order to keep him fresh ahead of the prestigious Ashes at home. He will also play the Sheffield Shield season at the start which will commence in the last week of October.

Cummins is currently playing the bilateral ODI series against India and has performed exceptionally well in the first One-Day Internationals. Though, the team has lost both the matches against the more superior Team India. The inability of the batsmen to combat spin has led to the downfall of the team from down under. But the bowling attack led by the youngster is doing really well in the series. He has only scalped two wickets but his economy of 3.90 in the first two games is brilliant.

Replacement of Cummins yet to be named

The replacement of Pat Cummins is yet to be named by the selectors of Cricket Australia (CA). According to cricket.com.au, it is also understood that he will be available for New South Wales (NSW) Blues in the latter stages of the JLT One-Day Cup if they make the finals on October 19 and 21. But the main focus will be on the domestic Sheffield Shield season.

“Pat has played a considerable amount of cricket this year after a long period away from the game due to injury,” national selector Trevor Hohns said in a statement. He believed that Pat Cummins is holding up well after his return to the International cricket and also said that he needs some rest ahead of an all-important Ashes.

“His body has handled the return to international cricket well, but we believe the best plan for him ahead of the Ashes Series is to return home to refresh, both mentally and physically, before he prepares for Sheffield Shield cricket,” he added.

The 24-year-old will surely relish a return to the fast and bouncy Australian wickets this summer having spent most of this year on the subcontinent. He bowled extremely well under the scorching heat in Bangladesh as well.