sport news JASON GILLESPIE: Australia must find a way to help captain Pat Cummins in the ...

sport news JASON GILLESPIE: Australia must find a way to help captain Pat Cummins in the ...
sport news JASON GILLESPIE: Australia must find a way to help captain Pat Cummins in the ...

Mitchell Starc’s place in the Australia XI for the first Test has been questioned by a few former players, but I am not among them. 

Here is a guy who has 255 Test wickets, who is a proven, big-time performer and even though I concede he needs to put in a few more consistent displays, I am backing him all the way.

He bowls fast, swings the ball, his record in pink-ball Tests is incredible and remember that the second match in Adelaide is under lights. His left-arm variety creates foot marks for Nathan Lyon, the off-spinner, to work with too.

Australia are pinning their hopes on Pat Cummins to lead them to glory at this year's Ashes

Australia are pinning their hopes on Pat Cummins to lead them to glory at this year's Ashes

During the last Australian summer, he wasn’t at his best but if you look a bit deeper into things, he was having some issues away from the game. He lost his father Paul to cancer, was living in a challenging bubble environment and to play through that and not be able to see his dad before he passed away in February was heart-breaking.

Having to deal with that as well as staying focused on his game was a big ask. Forget that he’s an international superstar. First and foremost, he is a son. It was a tough time for him and his family.

I am a huge fan of the Australian bowling line-up, what each bowler brings and how they work together as a unit. The trio of fast bowlers in Starc, the new captain Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, complemented by Lyon, will go down as one of the best attacks Australia has ever put on the park. They’re going to cause England’s top order batting some issues.

Mitchell Stark has had his involvement in the Australia squad questioned but deserves it

Mitchell Stark has had his involvement in the Australia squad questioned but deserves it 

I will be surprised if Australia do not begin the series with that first-choice quartet, although I see Starc and possibly Hazlewood rotating at some point through the five matches.

Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser are waiting in the wings and with the Ashes being more condensed than ever — an entire series being played within the space of 42 days must be a record — I expect the bowlers to be in and out. 

Captaincy will be a huge challenge for Cummins, but he’s made it really clear that he wants a collaborative approach to his leadership role and specifically asked for Steve Smith to be his deputy for that reason.

There will be occasional overs when he leans on senior players such as Smith to take ownership while he heads to fine leg to catch his breath.

Some will argue that a captain should never place himself in such a fielding position, but I don’t have a problem with him focusing on what he needs to do as a premier fast bowler — having a bit of a drink and a mental refresh.

Steve Smith will be alongside Cummins to help spread some of the duties of the captaincy

Steve Smith will be alongside Cummins to

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