'Got to have a thick skin': Cummins laughs off critics who think he should quit - as Aussies weigh up fitness calls on star duo

Pat Cummins says he is unfazed by calls for him to resign as captain, despite accepting full responsibility for Australia losing their way in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Cummins endured the worst Test of his career in last week’s Manchester draw, going for 1-129 as England scored 592.

Australia’s tactics in that match were roundly criticised, while Cummins dropped two catches and missed a run out in the field amid accusations he was rattled by the hosts’ approach.

Teammate Travis Head on Tuesday offered one explanation for the frantic performance, pointing out that the number of fielders on the boundary meant limited regular communication between players.

Cummins said Australia knew they had to be calmer in the fifth Test at The Oval, which begins on Thursday. “It’s something we speak a lot of as a group: A calm environment,” he said. 

“That’s off the field but on the field as well. It probably wasn’t our best day in terms of that. And that’s my fault, no one else’s.

Pat Cummins bowls as Ben Stokes watches on. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

“It’s tough. You’re out there, the wicket’s a flat wicket, the batters are batting well, it’s played at a different pace to pretty much any Test cricket before.”

Australia have conceded they may need a rethink as they look to wrap up their first Ashes series victory in England in 22 years with a win or draw in London.

Former Victoria captain Darren Berry last week labelled Australia’s short-ball approach “unwatchable”, and called for Cummins to resign as captain. “A few things have come across my desk from the boys having a laugh,” Cummins said of the criticism. 

“I’ve been in this job two years now and you learn pretty quickly you’ve got to have a thick skin.

“I’m not going to please everyone and everyone’s got opinions. But they aren’t facts, they’re opinions.”

Former Test greats Mark Waugh and Glenn McGrath have also questioned whether Cummins can balance the captaincy with his own bowling performance, particularly against an up-tempo England.

Under 18 months of Cummins’ captaincy Australia have won 11 Tests and lost four, while retaining the Ashes twice and winning the World Test Championship.

While the current skipper believes the job has a shelf life, he does not feel his use-by date is any time soon as a key transition period looms for Australia, with several players set to retire.

“I feel like with each game I’m getting better. There’s a fair bit more left in me,” Cummins said.

“The biggest asset we have is the experience of the group and that’s not going to be around forever. 

“We’re very individualised in how we let everyone be themselves and do it their way.

“Some of that’s down to the fact that we’ve got guys that have played 100 Test matches, or 15 years of first-class cricket. 

“If there’s new guys in, maybe you need to shift that (approach) a little bit. It’s exciting, that’s what I like about the job.”

Mitchell Starc holds his shoulder. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Australia expect to have Mitchell Starc and Mitch Marsh at their disposal for the fifth Ashes Test, despite both being placed on light duties for the tourists’ main training session at The Oval.

Starc remains under an injury cloud ahead of the start of the Test on Thursday, after doing damage to the AC joint in his left shoulder diving for a ball in Manchester last week.

The 33-year-old suffered further damage when he extended the joint on returning to the field moments later but recovered to bowl the following day.

The left-armer was placed on ice at training at The Oval on Tuesday, and was the only frontline quick not to spend time bowling in the on-field nets.

Cummins confirmed he expected Starc to be fit for Thursday, as Australia aim to capitalise on their 2-1 lead and register a long-awaited series win in England.

“He is the second-most capped Aussie pace bowler and you don’t do that without being extremely tough,” Cummins said. “Especially the way he bowls, 150 km/h. I reckon his pain threshold is as high as I’ve ever seen. 

“And his resilience – not only through injuries but everything he goes through. He’s someone who loves playing and you know he’s desperate to be on the team sheet each week, which as a captain I absolutely love.”

Starc has made a recent habit of playing through pain for Australia, having fought through the discomfort of a detached tendon in his bowling finger at the MCG last year.

The quick’s availability shapes as crucial for Australia in London. He has consistently been one of the tourists’ most dangerous bowlers on this tour, taking 15 wickets.

“It’s similar to what he’s done over the last couple of summers,” Cummins said. 

“He hasn’t lost any of that pace but his consistency, he really nails that back-of-a-length really well across the right-handers. 

“He’s added a few more tricks. You’ve seen a lot more wobble balls and his confidence to bowl that to right-handers. 

“Even when the ball is swinging back into the pads, he’s got enough nous to throw in the wobble seam every now and then across the right-handers.”

Marsh also didn’t bowl at The Oval on Tuesday, having pulled up sore after the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

But Australia expect him to be fine come Thursday, where he and Cameron Green will fight it out for one spot if spinner Todd Murphy is recalled.

Marsh is the more likely to win the battle given his batting form, despite Green being one of Australia’s better bowlers against England’s Old Trafford onslaught.

Cummins confirmed on Tuesday that Murphy would be strongly considered for The Oval, with the ground traditionally spin friendly.