Legendary Australian captain Allan Border admits he has been received over by Pat Cummins’s efficiency as skipper of the lads’s nationwide facet, however predicts the subsequent 12 months would be the true take a look at of his management.
Key factors:
- Border says he initially had reservations about Cummins being named Australian captain
- He has been impressed with Cummins’s management within the function
- Border believes the subsequent 12 months will take a look at Cummins’s captaincy abilities
Cummins was appointed Check captain following Tim Paine’s sudden resignation forward of the 2021/22 Ashes sequence in Australia.
Australia received the Ashes 4-0 underneath the tempo spearhead’s captaincy and has since recorded sequence victories over Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa.
Cummins’s facet additionally drew 1-1 with Sri Lanka away from house final yr.
Australia travels to India for a four-Check sequence subsequent month, earlier than assembly a rejuvenated England within the Ashes later this yr.
Border mentioned Cummins had loved a “golden run” since turning into captain, however his management would come underneath scrutiny with the away sequence in opposition to India and England.
Australia has not received a sequence in India since 2004, whereas it final defeated England within the Ashes on opposition soil in 2001, though it did retain the urn with a 2-2 drawn outcome 4 years in the past.
“That’s going to be the acid take a look at for him and the crew,” Border advised ABC Sport.
“The following 12 months is the true take a look at for that facet and Pat’s captaincy particularly as a result of India is simply in regards to the final frontier for the Australian cricket crew.
“We’ve not received there fairly often. It is a onerous place to play and a tough place to win and England is identical.”
Border mentioned he initially had reservations about Cummins being appointed skipper in 2021 as he was involved it may have an effect on his bowling.
However he has since been impressed by how Cummins has taken to the function.
“I used to be not as eager to see a quick bowler [appointed captain], not essentially the person however extra simply the truth that he is our number-one quick bowler,” Border mentioned.
“However he is proved so many individuals improper that and he is dealt with that so properly.
“Possibly the make-up of the crew has helped, the place he is acquired fairly a number of senior gamers that he can bounce issues off they usually can form of take over to a sure diploma when he is acquired the ball in his hand when he is bowling.
“I take my hat off to him. He is carried out fantastically properly. They appear like a contented facet. They’re taking part in superb cricket and that is all you are able to do as captain.”
