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Pat Cummins has given short shrift to the debate about Australia’s short-pitched salvo, arguing he’s copped 50 bouncers alone during the Ashes.
Former England captain Mike Atherton penned a column this week that called on umpires to better enforce the laws on intimidatory bowling during the five-Test series.
England’s tailenders have looked decidedly uncomfortable – and rarely troubled the scorers – amid the bouncer barrage.
Cummins, who struck Jimmy Anderson on the side of the helmet with a brutal bumper at the WACA, says the hosts won’t change a ploy that has helped them regain the urn.
“We think that’s our best chance of getting them out,” Cummins said.
“They’re all pretty competent batters. Stuart Broad’s got a Test match hundred and Anderson’s got an 80-odd.
“We know we’re going to cop it as well so we spend lots of time in the nets working on it.
“I’ve copped about 50 so far this series so we get back as much as we dish out.”
Anderson nursed a sore jaw for a couple of days after being rattled by Cummins.
“You’re always concerned when someone gets hit in the head but once you find out they’re OK, I think it’s part of cricket,” Cummins said.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has defended Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood over the issue.
“I don’t think there’s anything new about fast bowlers attacking tailenders where they show an area of vulnerability,” Sutherland said.
“That’s up to the umpires to do (enforce intimidatory bowling laws). I certainly don’t have any problem with fast bowlers attacking batsmen and trying to get them out.”
Jackson Bird is set to replace Starc in Australia’s XI.
Bird doesn’t possess the same express pace as the spearhead but, like Starc, the bouncer is among his most effective deliveries.
“Being tall I don’t find it a hard delivery to bowl,” Bird said.
“I don’t think in any game of cricket we go out to intentionally hurt the opposition … it’s something we use to get the tailenders out as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“As a tailender I know I’m going to cop it. I do cop that in first-class cricket and I’ve got no worries about it.”
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