TEST SKIPPER MIGHT BE DROPPED
THE Australian pursuit of a massive win over Afghanistan to get the run rate boost needed to qualify for the semi-finals could be the catalyst for star quick Pat Cummins to miss Friday’s must-win game in Adelaide.
World Cup-winning Australian captain Ricky Ponting conceded the selection panel might need to ponder the idea regardless of whether captain Aaron Finch recovers from a hamstring issue in time.
Australia needs a monster win and Ponting said should Finch recover, his 63 at the Gabba on Monday was enough for the captain to hold his spot.
But the need for a massive win to boost the defending champion’s net run rate and jump above England into second place in Group 1 could mean going batter heavy – and Cummins could make way for Cameron Green.
“If they are thinking about a quick going out, and this is going to be a tough decision for the selectors, but if they are thinking about that, then maybe it is Cummins that goes out and Green comes in,” Ponting said at the MCG on Thursday.
“They might have the luxury of playing the extra batsman and maybe let
Green go to the top and absolutely tee off, or they use him as a floater in the middle order somewhere.
“Whichever way they go they’re going to have to take a real risk and (throw) caution to the wind and try and win that game as quickly as they can.
“If they lose trying to win it well then that’s the way it is.”
Ponting elevated Josh Hazlewood ahead of both Cummins and fellow quick Mitchell Starc in the pecking order, but Starc’s blitzkrieg against Ireland, bowling first change, showed his worth to the team.