×

I don’t think I would make a very good captain: Pat Cummins

Cummins’ fine performance saw his ascent to No. 3 in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings and many, including spin legend Shane Warne felt he’s captaincy material.

Pat Cummins’ fine performance saw his ascent to No. 3 in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings and many, including spin legend Shane Warne felt he’s captaincy material. @ AFP
Pat Cummins’ fine performance saw his ascent to No. 3 in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings and many, including spin legend Shane Warne felt he’s captaincy material. @ AFP

Pat Cummins has been in terrific form during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy with both bat and bat. Cummins claimed a brilliant six-wicket haul in India’s second innings and added 63 off 114 balls in Australia’s second innings during the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). However, despite his heroic efforts, the hosts fell to a 137-run defeat to go 2-1 down in the series.

Cummins’ fine performance saw his ascent to No. 3 in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings and many, including spin legend Shane Warne felt he’s captaincy material. However, Cummins reckons he wouldn’t make a good leader.

ALSO READ: ‘Babysitter’ Rishabh Pant meets Tim Paine’s wife and kids

“I think it’s pretty ridiculous at the moment,” Cummins was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Tuesday in Sydney.

“We’ve obviously got ‘Painey’ (Test skipper Tim Paine) at the moment who is doing a brilliant job and I think it’s his for a long time now.

ALSO READ: Pat Cummins for Australia’s Prime Minister?

“I feel like I’m too busy in the game bowling and when I’m batting putting all my effort into that.  And when I’m not doing it I’m usually off with the fairies trying to recover. So, I don’t think I would make a very good captain at the moment.”

After the ball-tampering scandal, new coach Justin Langer conducted a search for vice-captains and finally zeroed in on Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh.

The last bowler to lead Australia in Test cricket was leg-spinner Richie Benaud, who captained 28 Tests from 1958-63, and the last fast-bowling captain was Ray Lindwall. Cummins said that a pacer can be a captain despite his bowling workload.

ALSO READ: Cricket Australia snubs Sunil Gavaskar for Border-Gavaskar trophy presentation

“I think someone like Josh Hazlewood at the moment has an enhanced role as vice-captain, he’s always thinking about the game when he’s out there fielding,” Cummins said.

“When he’s batting in the sheds he is always watching and thinking things through. Maybe it’s different personalities, but I see no reason why a bowler can’t be a captain.”

trending this week