When expressman Pat Cummins wore the baggy green for the first time, he was the second youngest in Australian Test cricket history at 18 years and 193 days behind Ian Craig’s 17 years and 239 days.
Not only did Cummins win the man-of-the-match award in Johannesburg at the Wanderers with 1-38 off 15 and a match defining 6-79 off 25, but he scored the winning runs with an unbeaten 13 in partnership with an unbeaten 40 from Mitchell Johnson for Australia to win a nail-biter by two wickets.
He was immediately acclaimed a prodigy, the cricket world was his oyster.
Nothing could have been further from the truth. Pat Cummins hasn’t played his second Test yet, five years and a month later.
And according to Cricket Australia, thanks to his long history of debilitating back stress fractures, Cummins will only play limited-over cricket this summer.
To add to Cummins’ frustration, Cricket Australia has dumped him from the elite contracted squad – a very costly decision.
To Cummins’ credit he’s still smiling, working on the basis it’s better to play some cricket than watch it on television at home as he recuperated from constant rehab.
But it begs the question, is Cricket Australia being cruel to be kind?.
In a perfect world, the super-keen Cummins would dearly love to play for his country in all three formats, but in his case it’s very much an imperfect world.
Given the option, Cummins would take the baggy green to be selected in the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba starting a week today, even if it meant being rested from tomorrows third and final ODI against New Zealand at the MCG.
Cummins could see out the summer playing Test cricket and Sheffield Shield for NSW, and give the limited-over season a miss.
And Cricket Australia should again promote Cummins to elite contracted status, as he richly deserves.
There’s an interesting comparison between Pat Cummins and Ian Craig, with one glaring exception – Cummins is playing in a fully professional era, Craig played in a totally amateur era where cricket was second fiddle to a career.
Craig wasn’t only the youngest baggy green, he was also the youngest to play Sheffield Shield at 16 years and 249 days, while still a student at North Sydney High, the youngest to score a first class double century at 17, and the youngest Australian Test captain at 22 years and 194 days
But Craig had vastly different problems during his career, with Pharmacy studies at Sydney Uni, and national service, dramatically cutting into his appearances.
It took a severe bout of hepatitis to prematurely end his career at 11 Tests with a batting average of just 19.88, way way below his elegant natural ability.
I was only just 20 when I first had the privilege of often batting in Mosman first grade with “The Colt”. He was only four years older, and already a veteran of first class cricket.
Over the next decade, I constantly marvelled at how quickly he picked up line and length, and how quickly he moved his feet into position before he effortlessly stroked the ball to the boundary, all along the deck and piercing the field.
Only Mark Waugh and David Gower were Craig-like in latter years, and always a delight to watch in full flight.
So between Craig and Cummins, there’s a lot of history.
But history wasn’t kind to Ian Craig, hopefully it will be kinder to Pat Cummins.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I'm pretty sure the fans were obsessed with Johnson when he was tearing his way through England. Hard to say if the it makes any difference to Ashes crowds, but he was certainly everyone's favourite player that summer.
Dom
Guest
Agree 100% he should be playing Shield. Until we see how he goes in Shield though, saying he should be spearheading Australia's Test attack is a little premature.
Lancey5times
Guest
Good morning twodogs, My heavy critique of David's work is based purely on the 'expert' tag that accompanies what he publishes. Were I to write an article for the Roar I expect it would either get taken apart or worse, have zero replies as nobody would make the effort to finish reading it. If you feel myself or David's other detractors should write something to compare to this tripe then you yourself are rating his work below that of a so called 'expert'. I read all articles put up on this site by the 'experts' in the sports I follow and I feel with that tag comes an expectation of A) accuracy, B) balances views and opinions (not personal vendettas) and C) that the author engages with his readers in the comments section. This article is an exception in that David has actually replied to a comment. He usually just takes his cheque and moves straight onto tomorrows clickbait
twodogs
Guest
Geez Lordy, you write a story in which I thought no one could cut you down. But then along comes Lancey. I would only say to Lancey and your other detractors - write an article yourselves and we'll see what you're made of. If a mistake in typo or factual has been made, would it not be kinder to point it out without the spiteful frothing at the mouth type of retorts? By the way David, enjoy your articles even if you slip up. Ya not gettin any younger you know and I'm not bloody far behind ya.?
Lancey5times
Guest
I was reading through that and the whole time thinking "Chris, you're 100% on the money but when are you going to mention that it doesn't matter because the decision makers at CA think otherwise" Then you said it.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I'd agree with that. People love pace. Sure six-hitting draws crowds, but raw pace is also a big winner with the crowds. We all love looking at the speedo and seeing that 150+ come up, watching the fast bowler make the batsmen feel uncomfortable. Mitchell Johnson at his best was probably the biggest crowd-puller in the team.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
The only thing with that is that I think short form cricket can often be harder on the body, because you may not bowl as many overs, but you are generally going 100% all the time. While playing longer form cricket he may have to bowl more overs where he can bowl within himself a bit and just throw in the odd effort ball when required. If he could have played those shield games and just held back a bit but bowled 30 overs a game, maybe with his average speed more around the 140 mark than the 145 mark, just that bit down, it puts a bit less stress on the body but builds overs into the body. And I reckon he's got the skills to still have success at first class level while bowling largely within himself. I know that's at odds with CA's "bowl as little as possible" policy, but I truly believe that getting overs into the body bowling just slightly within yourself, rather than bowling less but bowling flat out when you do, is going to be better for building into long term health.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
ODI's definitely hurt the ability to play more shield cricket. They mean he couldn't play this round, but he could have played the first three Shield rounds, and they could mean he can't play the first two post-BBL rounds, but he should at least still be available for the last 2 rounds, so he should be playing them at the very least. If he can come through the BBL and ODI series unscathed, he needs to play those last 2 Shield rounds for NSW.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
i am making the comment from an ignorant viewpoint for havent watched an ODI since the concklusion of the 96 WC. Find them a tired and outdated form of the game But always associated Aussies with loving seeing batsmen jump from facing quickmen
Lancey5times
Guest
I think maybe a little Tim. Cricket fans were a purer bunch back then. I'm afraid in limited overs cricket bowlers have become the necessary support act to the batsman. Sort of like chips and salad. Can't have one without the other but who eats the salad really?
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Many come to see the tearaway quicks Just look at the hysteria Thommo caused, or i am showing my age, Frank 'Typhoon' Tyson
Lancey5times
Guest
With the exception of Warney when do bowlers really put bums on seats? The crowds come for clean hitting and massive sixes. I would say a poor bowling attack from the opposition will fetch a bigger crowd than good Aussie bowlers (or bowlsman as Clarkey would call them)
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
I think it will be a while before Cummins becomes box office gold - and that's assuming he amounts to anything more than potential. Crowds for the first two ODIs haven't exactly set the world on fire have they. And I understand the MCG will be pretty empty tomorrow. But if his body hangs together and he can get some consistently good results, I'm sure CA will be featuring him heavily in their marketing. I just hope he reaches his potential!
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Seems like a pretty sensible course of action to me...
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
The aside to this which I am struggling with is the 'corporate consideration' In the lead up to this ODI series, Lehmann said as an aside ' He must play both Starc/Hazelwood....' I think he did this with CA whispering in his ear about the need for stars to turn out with crowds in mind. Cummins is Box office in this regard As for his present/future, he needs to be primed for next years Ashes, work up to Grade games and Shield in the new year and after play in a few A-Games.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
So you've now moved on to outright threatening abuse. What a charming individual you are...
Lancey5times
Guest
Dingo, Cummins playing test cricket straight away is a win-win for Lordy. If he succeeds he can say 'I told you so' and if he breaks down and retires from the game he can launch a poorly considered and vicious attack on the selectors and CA for mishandling him. Won't even have to research that one (not that he ever does :))
Felix
Guest
This is spot on, they are managing his work load so that he doesn't get into his third spell on a muggy QLD night and pull up lame, leaving us a bowler down for the rest of the test. If he was selected prematurely and broke down, can you imagine the backlash from all corners? They would pounce on his lack of long form cricket and, quite rightly, hang the selectors out to dry over it. I think the ideal scenario is to play these ODI's, a bit of BBL then play the last 4 Shield games. Let's see how he goes from there - his express pace will always see him leapfrog the trundlers in the selectors' eyes, which I'm not against, as long as his figures back it up.
Felix
Guest
Hahaha that got me good, well played.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Come on David you can't seriously think after 3 seasons in a row of pretty much no FC Cricket CA can just pitch fork Cummins back into the Test Team? Let's see him get through a few one dayers 1st and look to build into Shield Cricket in the New Year. We've waited this long for him, I'm sure we can wait just that little bit longer to make sure he's right to go. He's probably one more stress fracture away from being finished. Let's not kill the career. Lets try and get it going.