Pace prince Wasim Akram on how fast bowlers can make the best captains and why Aussie skipper has broken the mould

No matter what happens on the series-defining fourth day at Headingley, Pat Cummins has turned history on its ear according to one of history’s greatest players.

Pat Cummins has been lauded by a cricket legend for changing the way people think about fast bowling captains as he prepares for the biggest day of his career.

Pakistan pace great Wasim Akram, widely considered one of the greatest fast bowlers in cricket history, said Cummins had proved to a doubting world that pace bowlers, so often ignored for leadership roles, can make the best type of captains because they are so nuanced to the needs of their bowling teammates.

Until Cummins was appointed Australian Test captain the only specialist fast man to captain Australia in a Test was Ray Lindwall, and that for just one Test because Ian Johnson was injured.

Cummins, like Akram, has bucked the trend of pacemen being overlooked for leadership roles. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Australia had a long standing theory that batsmen, because they are less burdened in the field, should be the first ones considered for leadership roles but former Pakistan captain Akram, who will be part of Fox Cricket‘s broadcast team for this year’s 50 over World Cup in India, has delighted in seeing Cummins break the mould.

“Pat Cummins has proved that wrong … that particular concept that bowlers cannot be good captains,‘’ Akram told this masthead.

“I think Pat is doing a phenomenal job. I worked with him about six or seven years ago in the IPL for a couple of years. He is a great leader on and off the field, a humble human and is liked by the team. He is one of those guys who always has a smile on his face and he has the positivity which he is passing on to the team as a leader.”

Akram captained the Pakistani team from 993 until 2000. Picture: Phil Noble - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

“I reckon bowlers can be better captains because they know how to handle their bowlers.

“A batting captain might give you an extra over for your spell and you might be gone for the whole day but as a bowler I might know this bowler is good enough to bowl two four over spells not a spell of six overs.”

Cummins faces a day which could define his career as a player and leader on the fourth day of the Headingley Test with England resuming at 0-27 in pursuit of 251.

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Does he attack for victory or put sweepers in the deep? Or does he try a bit of both? How can he counter the super-fast outfield?

Does he lead from the front as he did with the ball in the previous two Tests or is there another matchwinner waiting in the wings?

Does he force feed England with short balls or given the small target is that too much of a risk?

How does he handle rookie spinner Todd Murphy?

His answers to these questions may well decide the fate of the game.

How Cummins handles the final innings at Headingley could prove an important test of his captaincy. Picture: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

With the Test and Australia will win the series and the Ashes.

Lose it and England are suddenly just 2-1 behind with two Tests to play and full of hope, hype and ambition.

A classic finish awaits us.

If Australia wins the Ashes it will be the gold stud that will stand out in the careers of a generation of players who grew from boys to men together in the same city, state and country.

Originally published as Pace prince Wasim Akram on how fast bowlers can make the best captains and why Aussie skipper has broken the mould