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:
- In the Ashes series, Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 23 at 24.65, from Starc’s 22 at 23.54, and Hazlewood’s 21 at 25.90.
- In South Africa, Cummins is again the leading wicket-taker with 16 at 24 from Hazlewood’s 12 at 33,66, and Starc’s 12 at 34.41.
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.
Bill
Guest
Your spot on David about Cummins. In the previous 12 months, Hazelwood has taken just 6 wickets in the first 10 overs of an innings at an average in the mid 30`s. Time to give Pat first go
Basil 1 of 2
Guest
See, you sang Cummins praises without putting down the debutant Sayers. Why couldn't the poor excuse of a journalist do that?
twodogs
Guest
Possibly Basil. Though I'd dare say not. He'd be a dangerous proposition with a shiny new cherry. Chadds ability in shield obviously preceeds him but Pat is tried and tested at 140 +. If the wicket had much in it, SA would've bowled first since now we have a much weakened batting roster.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Sorry forget that there was the second new ball used yesterday.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Burns Renshaw Doran S Marsh Maxwell Paine Wildermuth Cummins Tremain/Rogers Hazelwood/Rogers Lyon
KenoathCarnt
Guest
He got Ab who was dreadfully miss timing everything dispite somehow making 69 but still credit there and Rabada who is a tail ender.
anon
Roar Pro
He got two quick wickets.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Worked out well?? He was absolutely useless he was completely wide and made absolutely no use of the crease the openers looked very comfortable against him.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I do understand why they might have given Sayers the new ball. Essentially he's in the team specifically as a swing bowler, and therefore the feeling often is that if you've got someone picked in that role, he should really get the new ball. And if you've got a bit of a breeze, you might have that bowler bowling into the breeze while the quicker bowlers bowl with the breeze. In which case, it would be Hazlewood that likely should have been pushed out of using the new ball as he really hasn't been near his best of late, and Cummins does deserve the chance of taking the new rock.
anon
Roar Pro
Cummins should have bowled, but the choice of Sayers with the new ball worked out really well last night. Maybe Paine thought Sayers would get more benefit out of seaming the new ball.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Thankyou David for making this article i have been screaming at my tv for quite sometime time for Cummins to have the new ball and last night the batteries in the remote went flying across the room. Cummins has been getting some serious nip and movement with a older ball imagine what he will do with the new cherry it will not surprise one bit if next innings he picks up a few quick scalps.
Basil 1 of 2
Guest
No, I feel fine. I just feel putting down the ability of one to promote the other is poor "journalism". Could it be that this was discussed, and Cummins prefers bowling with a little less shine on the ball?
Mickey of mo$man
Guest
Useless comment
jarijari
Guest
Rub it hard Pat.
Rob
Guest
Why? Because he is from NSW David. Hazelwood and Cummins are the same right arm back of a length type bowlers. Variation is very important. Have you every wondered why a spinner and quick can be devastating in tandem? Sayers is a bowler very different from them. He's accurate and capable of bowling longer spells. Sayers locks down one end into the breeze allowing Hazelwood and Cummins to rotate and attack in short bursts. Rabada, Morkel and Philander (the same as Sayers) go well together. Starc (left full pitch in swing) and Hazelwood (right arm back of a length shaping away) from right hander work well in combos. Johnson and Harris. Bowling Mitch Marsh at Bavuma straight up was crazy. 3 overs 24 runs. Fruit salad welcome to the wicket stuff.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
Pat Cummins has proven his class and deserves a go! he did it in Bangladesh BY HIMSELF did he not?
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Cummins gets good nip of the pitch when the ball is soft imagine when it is new. In the ODI against England at the SCG he ran through the top order with the new ball.
Dave
Guest
Not sure of the logic of this for reasons why he should have the new ball: “In the Ashes series, Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 23 at 24.65, from Starc’s 22 at 23.54, and Hazlewood’s 21 at 25.90.” Given Starc had a better average and played one fewer Test you can’t argue Cummins had the best record. (The aggregate fallacy again; I recall a previous article which implied that Lyon is a better bowler than the likes of Benaud, Grimmett and Laker because he’s taken more wickets). Also, who you give the new ball to depends on who’s most likely to use it well. Cummins hasn’t generally looked like he has a lot of skills in that area, although that was perhaps because he mostly bowled short in the Ashes. I would have thought if Sayers didn’t have the new ball on a dry pitch it wouldn’t make sense playing him. On the other hand, Starc and Hazlewood have looked pretty ineffective with the new ball in SA, so why not give PC a go.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Sadly, snark seems to increasingly be a substitute for journalism these days.
David Lord
Expert
Editorial should have killed that diabolical suggestion, I hope Pat sues the pants off you tyrone..