I really admire KKR coach Mccullum, says Cummins
ABU DHABI: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Pat Cummins has said he is happy to have head coach Brendon Mccullum by his side as the team aims to win a third title.
Australian fast bowler Cummins, ater serving his room-quarantine, will be joining the rest of his team-mates at KKR in just a few days’ time. KKR take on Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday.
“The first thing that I am really excited about is that I don’t have to bowl to him ( Mccullum) anymore,” Cummins told kkr.in.
“He was one of the best and most feared hiters I have come up against in my career. It can be the first ball of the match and he might be hiting over your head for a six.”
Cummins said he admires former New Zealand skipper Mccullum for his aggression.
“So, I am happy that he is in my team as a coach and that I don’t have to bowl to him. He is someone I really admire for his fire. Whether it was his stint as the captain of the New Zealand team or his approach in the IPL clashes, I just love the way he goes about it. He really wants to put on the show and take the game on.”
Bowling coach Kyle Mills said that Cummins is currently the best bowler in the world. Asked to react, Cummins said: “I feel the same about him as I do about Baz; again, an ex-player, an absolute master of his crat. He has got an incredible record for New Zealand. You don’t get too many opportunities to work with totally different coaches.
“Now in Australia, we have got the same. We have coaches for different formats and then state teams. So, you might have two or three different coaches. But the opportunity to go and work with Kyle, who has played around the world, will definitely bring to me different things that I never thought about bowling before. So, yeah I am really excited to work with him.”
BATTLE OF SIBLINGS: England fast bowler Tom Curran said the batle between him and his brother Sam in the upcoming IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday will feel ‘odd’, given the two cricketers have rarely come against each other.
Tom though said both of them will enjoy the batle, which will be litle throwback of their backyard cricket days. Tom, who had made his IPL debut for KKR in 2018, was bought by Royals at his base price of Rs 1 crore at the IPL 2020 auction. Having arrived in Dubai ater featuring in the limited-overs game for England and Australia, Tom said he is looking forward to geting game time in IPL.
Royals will open their campaign on Tuesday when they face in-form CSK wherein the siblings will come up against each other. “It’s going to be really odd to be honest. We are usually, sort of, helping each other out and geting help from each other,” Tom Curran told Sky Sports.
“But, I think it will be a litle throwback to the backyard days although he can’t cheat this time. It’s really exciting. Got to get into the side first but it’s something that we both of us will enjoy.”
Sam who played for Punjab in IPL 2019 before being bought by CSK at IPL 2020 auction for Rs 5.5 crore, got his career in yellow off to a fine start as he played a big part in their win over Mumbai Indians.