Ashes 2021-22: How Pat Cummins is expected to fall back on Steve Smith, David Warner when in field
With all eyes expected to be on new captain Pat Cummins when in the field, coach Justin Langer says Steve Smith and David Warner will fill key roles strategically.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Steve Smith and David Warner will assume official and unofficial leadership roles this Ashes series with new captain Pat Cummins urged to heavily consult the shrewd batters when Australia is in the field.
Coach Justin Langer will feed Cummins all the analytical “gold nuggets” — such as key bowling match-ups — but Cummins will then share the on-field tactical decisions rather than attempt to run the show on his own.
Smith, 32, is likely to act as the de facto captain at times as Cummins sweats through his gruelling bowling workloads during long days in the field.
“I think the role of Steve Smith will become very important on the field,” Langer said on Saturday.
Sport’s greatest rivalry is just around the corner and you can catch the Ashes live and ad-break free during play. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
“Steve Smith is the formal vice-captain, David Warner has got as good a cricket brain (as there is) in the game (and) Alex Carey has been a captain before and now he’s behind the stumps.
“He’s got his three best mates there, the bowlers (Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon), they’ll all have a view on it.
“So he’ll be fine strategically I think. He’s got lots of support around him.
“It’ll just be maintaining the balance of everything else that goes with it with his bowling load and then captaining and all the commitments that come with that.
“So we’ll keep an eye on that.”
All eyes will be on how Cummins rotates his bowlers, where he fields and who he asks for advice when he walks on to the Gabba as Australia’s 47th Test captain on Wednesday.
Smith was announced as vice-captain last week after serving Cricket Australia’s two-year leadership ban, but Warner was slugged with a lifetime leadership ban for his involvement in the 2018 sandpaper scandal.
Shane Warne said last the Smith and Warner sanctions should’ve aligned and if they were both eligible then Warner would’ve been a better choice as Cummins’ understudy.
“He’s got the best cricket brain in the team,” Warne said.
“I’ve watched him captain in the IPL, I’ve watched him captain Big Bash games, I’ve watched him captain on the field at times, I’ve spoken to him a lot.
“He’s a very, very good leader and a very good cricket brain.”
Cummins has never been rested from a Test and the 28-year-old privately expects to soldier through all five matches over the next seven weeks.
Langer said Cummins’ workload would be aided by giving all-rounder Cameron Green some key overs and calling on Marnus Labuschagne’s handy leg-spin.
“To be honest in my 10 years as a coach I’ve never had anyone come to me and say, ‘I need one off’,” Langer said.
“He’s got massive upside. There’s your headline — Pat’s got massive upside as a leader and as a captain of Australian cricket.
“He’s an outstanding person as we know, he’s an elite player — a world-class player — (and) he’s a great person.”
Selection blunder: Heads could roll warns legend
Mitchell Starc is set to play in Wednesday‘s first Ashes Test but former Test firebrand Jeff Thomson has blasted the “crazy’’ preparation of Australia’s pace cartel.
Starc is set to win a selection shootout with the in-form Jhye Richardson who almost mowed him down from behind after thriving in the Sheffield Shield while the big left-armer was away with the T20 World Cup.
Thomson believes Australia made a major tactical error in sending its entire Test pace attack of Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to the World T20 even though they won the title, for it meant none of them will have played a red ball game this season before the Test.
The Test great said England’s batsmen can take advantage.
“I’ve seen Richardson bowl and I can understand the push to play him but this would not even be an issue if Starc had played a few Sheffield Shield games and taken a few wickets,’’ Thomson said.
“But like the rest of them he’s done nothing and I think it’s crazy. I mean the T20 World Cup is hit and giggle stuff. Honestly, who gives a shit?
“If Australia had not won the T20 World Cup no-one would have cared but compare that to the fallout if Australia loses the Ashes.
“Heads will roll if that happens. The Ashes just means more. None of our bowlers have played red ball cricket and now they have to front up for five Tests. It won’t be easy for them.
“If you were England you’d be laughing. You would be telling your batsmen just to bat and bat. If England can play the long game in this series, Australia could easily be in trouble because they just haven’t had the right preparation.’’
Thomson supports the elevation of Cummins as Tim Paine’s replacement as national captain but knows from his own career it won’t be easy being the side’s premier fast man and directing traffic.
Thomson captained Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and Australia in touring games on tour in the West Indies in 1977-78.
“I would like to see him do well because he a nice bloke but it is challenging,’’ he said.
“There are times when you start to think of things like getting your field placements right and you forget to concentrate on your bowling.
“I found at times you were thinking about everyone else but when you were bowling you should be thinking more about yourself. It is easy to get distracted.’’
Originally published as Ashes 2021-22: How Pat Cummins is expected to fall back on Steve Smith, David Warner when in field
Konstas reveals secret plan to attack Bumrah
Teen sensation Sam Konstas says the plan to attack Indian legend Jasprit Bumrah was hatched in the days leading up to the MCG Test, as he stole the show on the opening day in Melbourne.
Kohli learns his fate over Konstas collision
Indian cricket veteran Virat Kohli has learned his fate after his “pathetic” act with youngster Sam Konstas on Boxing Day.