Bowling guru Troy Cooley admits Test cricket might be coming too soon for young quicks Ben Cutting, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson but has backed them to repeat Pat Cummins’ heroics on debut.
Five players withdrawing from injury ensured four debutants were named in the first Test squad for the Gabba clash with New Zealand starting on Thursday – including the fast bowling trio.
While one of them is expected to carry the drinks, Peter Siddle will still lead the most inexperienced Australian Test attack since Merv Hughes and Bruce Reid made their debuts against India in 1985.
Cooley – the former national team’s bowling mentor and current Centre of Excellence head coach – still believed the young trio would silence the doubters – just like Cummins did.
Teenage tearaway Cummins was one of the five withdrawals after injuring his heel in his man-of-the-match second Test performance on debut against South Africa.
“It might be a little bit early for them but they definitely got some great signs,” Cooley said on Sunday of the young trio.
“You’ve got to start somewhere and these boys have been working really hard.
“We said that (reservations) about young Patrick Cummins and look what happened there.”
Cooley backed Queensland quick Cutting to make his debut at his home Gabba deck but said the jury was out on who would be named 12th man.
Cutting is Sheffield Shield’s form bowler with 23 wickets at 14.65.
“Ben was right up there (for Test selection) a couple of years ago and got injured, spent some time out and worked his way back in – he deserves an opportunity,” he said.
“He has been brought up on some good Brisbane wickets. They know how to swing and seam it up here – he’s going to go alright.
“But it all comes down to the selectors.”
Meanwhile, Cooley backed Mitchell Johnson to bounce back as the Test quick faced the prospect of season-ending surgery.
Johnson reportedly might opt to go under the knife to relieve a swollen left foot after scans uncovered a piece of metal in it following the second Test against South Africa.
“I am not sure about missing the whole season – he seems to come back from injury quite well,” Cooley said.
Asked what it would take to get the out-of-form Johnson firing even when fully fit, Cooley said: “He’s a tough competitor. He will find a way back.”
Cooley was interim Australian coach when Johnson shocked many by changing his run-up during the second Test in South Africa.
But he did not think it was a sign of desperation.
“He was trying to get some more control at the time and he took it on,” Cooley said.
“He is well in check with what he needs to do and he’s not scared to try things and I think that is a positive.
“But at that Test match, he still bowled at 140kph and still had some good control – I think there are exciting times ahead for him.”
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