Question mark over test fitness of freak Cummins

Pakistan bowler Irfan suspended

SYDNEY, March 14, (RTRS): A recall for one-test paceman Pat Cummins has been a long time coming but New South Wales captain Moises Henriques believes it still might be too soon for the bowler he considers a “freak of nature”.

Cummins may have only played one test but his was a pretty impressive performance, taking 6-79 in the second innings to lead Australia to a twowicket victory over South Africa at Wanderers in November 2011.

After more than five years of injury setbacks preventing his talent from blooming in the test arena, the 23-year-old was called up to replace the injured Mitchell Starc in the squad for the last two matches in the series in India.

A man-of-the-match performance on his return to first class cricket for the first time in six years last week was enough for selectors to give him the call, but his New South Wales captain was not so sure.

“I think Pat is a very special bowler, so in terms of skill-wise and if you want someone to play cricket for Australia, I think Pat Cummins is your man,” Henriques told reporters on Monday.

“But whether he’s ready physically on the back of one Shield game, that’s a completely different kettle of fish.

“There’s a number of different factors when it comes into selecting guys to play for Australia in those sorts of conditions.”

Portuguese-born all-rounder Henriques made his test debut against India in Chennai in 2013 and all four of his matches for his country were played on the continent.

Perhaps a little piqued after the Australian selectors overlooked his own claims to call uncapped Marcus Stoinis into the squad as a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh last week, Henriques questioned their call on Cummins.

Pace bowler Mohammad Irfan was provisionally suspended on Tuesday as part of an anti-corruption investigation into the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 tournament.

The 34-year-old, who has represented Pakistan in all forms of international cricket, has been charged with two violations of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code and has 14 days to respond to the charge.

“He has also been provisionally suspended with immediate effect from participating in all forms of cricket,” the PCB said.

“The PCB’s investigation will continue with regard to any questionable activity by any player and player support personnel as it carries on with its mission of eliminating the menace of corruption from cricket.”

Pakistan’s fast bowler Mohammad Irfan arrives at the Pakistan Cricket Board headquarters in Lahore,

Pakistan, on March 14. (AP)