Quick to laud Cummins
THE fast bowling fraternity is in awe of Pat Cummins’ decision to pursue the Australian captaincy – because they candidly admit they could not have done the job themselves.
Stars Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have expressed concerns over the strain the Test captaincy might place on the man who is also leads the attack, but ultimately they support Cummins as Tim Paine’s likely successor.
Pace great Glenn McGrath has already declared he feels the demands would be too much and endorsed Steve Smith for a second crack at the captaincy.
Cummins is keen to take on the role if it is offered and that willingness to put his hand up is enough to satisfy Johnson and Lee, despite reservations.
“What I can say is that he has the qualities of a skipper, but also, too, there is a lot of pressure on a fast bowler as a captain,” Lee said.
“It is hard enough trying to be a fast bowler and making sure that you are taking care of your own duties rather than looking after another 10 guys as well. It is a big job.
“Fast bowlers, however, have been captains ... he’s got an exceptional cricket brain ... I don’t want to put any pressure on him. Could he? Absolutely. But would I want him to be? Well that is a question for him.”
Ashes hero Johnson says he would not have entertained captaincy, but is backing Cummins to give it a crack when Paine retires.
“I think it’s just too hard for a bowler, but ultimately if he thinks he can do it, then why not?” he said.
“You just don’t want it to have an impact on his performance. The thing for me is you need to have that bit of a break from the game when you’re a bowler.
“But maybe it might work for him. It may help him if he’s had a bad spell or a bad over, where he’ll be able to switch off and go: ‘OK I need you to bowl and Joshy (Hazlewood), I need you on now.’
“It might take his mind off it, and it might really work for him. It could go either way.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing it but I guess I’m just looking at it from my point of view and what I would have done in that situation and personally I wouldn’t do it. But if he’s putting his hand up and he’s keen to do it, why not have a crack?”
Cummins is considered the firm favourite to be Australia’s next captain, having received backing from Greg Chappell, Steve Waugh and the man who first suggested him as a candidate – Michael Clarke.
But McGrath said Smith should be the next in line.
“Fast bowlers can be captain, they’re the most intelligent in the team, but the way when a batsman is batting he can concentrate solely on his batting, whereas a bowler when he’s bowling is constantly thinking about who’s bowling at the next end, what change is coming up and where the game is heading,” he said.
“I think the workload for a fast bowler is a little bit much.”