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Pat Cummins has been the most dangerous, the most accurate, the most aggressive, and the most successful of the Australian pace attack throughout the Ashes series, and is now backing it up in South Africa.
So why is he the first change bowler, playing second fiddle to Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the use of the new ball?
It doesn’t make any sense.
Overnight, new captain Tim Paine shunted Cummins further down the pecking order by giving debutant Chadd Sayers the new ball after Starc was ruled out of the fifth Test in Johannesburg with a leg injury.
Cummins deserved more respect, especially as Paine repeated the dose late in the day with the second new ball.
Who was the best bowler by far overnight?
Pat Cummins.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
He was instrumental in the baggy green fightback when South Africa was cruising at 2 for 247 to finish the day at 6 for 313.
Cummins had opener Aiden Markram brilliantly caught in the gully by Mitchell Marsh low down to his left and on the very next ball, trapped skipper Faf du Plessis in front for a golden duck when he shouldered arms to a superb late in-swinger.
Yet, he wasn’t given the second new ball which was shared by Hazlewood, Sayers, and off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who came on just before stumps.
Sayers bowled at a pedestrian 120 clicks which didn’t even frighten the worms in the wicket, but he did grab a couple of late wickets, dismissing AB de Villiers, caught behind for a struggling 69, and nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada for a duck in the same over.
There are standout reasons why Pat Cummins should have first use of the new ball ahead of Starc, Hazlewood, and now Sayers:
What more does Cummins have to do to get the recognition he deserves?
Cummins would be even more dangerous with the new ball – when the ball is much harder and shinier, with the seam raised.
All he needs is the chance to prove it.