POMS BETTER DUCK, CUMMINS TO LET RIP
PAT Cummins has warned England to brace themselves for the pent- up wrath of a caged lion, as he prepares to fly off the leash for the first time in a home summer.
Six years after capturing the imagination of the cricket world, six Gabba Tests have gone by with Cummins either injured or wrapped in cotton wool.
However, any lingering fears about the 24- year- old’s much- scrutinised back were put to rest two months ago in Bangladesh when in 40C heat he not only survived being the lone fast bowler in the attack but made a docile subcontinental deck rage like the WACA.
Cummins has been sidelined so long he’s already finished a business degree at the University of Technology, Sydney, but finally the wait is over and Australia’s new spearhead makes no secret of the bouncer barrage awaiting England’s top order.
“I hope you practise your ( work against) bouncers because we’ll be bowling a lot of them, I think,” was the blunt message to England from Cummins as he prepares to start his summer for NSW against Victoria on Sunday at North Sydney Oval.
“No one really likes it if you’ve got real pace and real accuracy. Especially those kind of guys.
“( England) play on slower wickets, not as much bounce, so over here and in South Africa as well, it’s one of our biggest strengths.
“We grow up on these wickets and as bowlers getting bounce has always been really important. I think trying to make it as different to their home conditions as possible.
“Bouncy, fast wickets and short balls ( will) definitely do that.
“There’s nothing like getting your adrenaline up and then running in trying to bowl short.”
Cummins believes the Ben Stokes saga that resulted in the troubled allrounder losing his major personal endorsement sponsorship with bat manufacturer New Balance will be “disruptive” to the England camp.
The menacing right- armer, who will keep in regular contact with mentor Dennis Lillee in the lead- up to the first Test, says the Aussie attack will target England captain Joe Root.
Mitchell Johnson was Australia’s chief intimidator during the 2013- 14 Ashes series whitewash and Cum- mins – like Mitchell Starc – wants to take that baton.
“I’d love to play that role,” he said. “We’re lucky that there’s a few of us who are all pretty tall and get a bit of bounce and like to bowl with a bit of pace. Joe Root is their in- form batsman … he’ll be the prized wicket along with Alastair Cook at the top.”
Cummins has played four Test matches this year, all on the subcontinent, and all indicating that the long wait will be well worth it.
He grew so used to missing home summers that it became normal to watch on as a spectator, but in the second Test in Chittagong back in September, Cummins received the ultimate confidence boost. For the first time in more than 40 years, Australia went into a Test with only one quick – and he was the man.