Pat Cummins named as replacement for injured Mitchell Starc
Cricket Australia have named Pat Cummins as the replacement for the injured Mitchell Starc, for the remaining two Tests in their ongoing Indian tour. The announcement comes as a surprise because the 23-year-old had not played a single Test match since his debut back in 2011 against South Africa.
Cummins will be replacing Starc who suffered a stress fracture in his right foot that ruled him out for the remainder of the series. The young Aussie had a dream debut against the Proteas in 2011 when he claimed 6/79 in a single innings but hasn't represented his country since after suffering numerous injury setbacks, ever since.
The 23-year-old returned to the longest format of the game in the Harris Shield, this week, when he played for New South Wales in their victory over South Australia at the SCG. Cummins bowled with pace and accuracy to end with figures of 8/104 and also contributed 42 handy runs with the bat.Â
The Australians are hoping Cummins will prove to be the ideal replacement for Starc, who had been incredible in the first two Test matches against India.
“It’s unfortunate to lose Mitch out of the squad in India. In selecting Pat, we were looking for a strike bowling replacement option. Pat has impressed in his return to cricket this summer with consistent performances in his ODI, Twenty20 International, and Big Bash matches,” Australia’s selection panel chair, Trevor Hohns said.
“He has also had a very good Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales, after six years off, where he made a notable Shield best 4-57 in the first innings, before bettering those figures in the second innings with 4-47 in his man-of-the-match performance.”
Though Bird had impressed in the nets during the training sessions on this tour, Starc’s fiery spell with the new ball and on the last day of the Bangalore Test proved the value of firepower on flat, unresponsive wickets.
Test Squads
India (for third and fourth Tests):Â Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha,
Australia:Â Steve Smith (c), David Warner (