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Cummins says he’s up for the job of the captain if necessary.
Tim Paine, Australia’s regular Test captain, may miss the start of the Ashes series.
Ashes series begins on December 8 in Australia.
Pat Cummins, Australia’s vice-captain, stated on Wednesday that he’s prepared to take on the role of the captain if Tim Paine is unable to play in the first Ashes Test.
Vice-captain Pat Cummins stated on Wednesday that if regular Test skipper Tim Paine is unable to take the field for Australia at the start of the Ashes series, he is willing to balance his workload and the captaincy. After undergoing surgery to treat a bulging disc in his neck in September, Paine was included in Australia’s 15-man team for the first two Ashes Tests. I’ll be ready if I have to, but I doubt it,” Cummins told Channel Nine. “Hopefully Tim will be good. He’s nearing 100 percent.”
The fast bowler said he could always seek the advice of the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner if he was struggling with the responsibility of leading the team.
“If I were in the position and it became difficult, I would rely on the support of eleven other players in the middle.
With Smithy and Davey Warner among the seasoned bowlers, “I’d have no qualms handing it up to others to help out.”
Since February, the 28-year-old has not played in a first-class match. Before playing in all of Australia’s T20 World Cup games, he missed the limited-overs tours to the West Indies and Bangladesh, as well as the second leg of the IPL.
There is no doubt Cummins will be fit for the red-ball series, albeit, After a few years of not playing football, Cummins said, “my body feels better than it has in a couple of years” because of the time he had to devote to working out.
No niggles, I’m feeling great, and I always enjoy going into a series to give myself the best opportunity to perform and, if I have to bowl 50 overs in a Test, I can.”
Australia will play a three-day intra-squad match starting on December 1 ahead of the series opener. Besides Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who were all members of the Australian team that won the T20 World Cup on Sunday, Cummins will be responsible for the team’s tempo.
Our advantage is that we’re super fresh because of the brief breaks. He remarked, “I always think it’s better to be underdone rather than overdone before a major Test series.
“We have access to a number of wickets in the middle.” We’ll have three, four, or five center wickets where we attempt to have somewhat big days and bowl a couple of spells on those days before we’re ready to go.”
The Gabba in Brisbane will host the opening match on December 8; the Adelaide Oval will host the second match on December 16.
