Ian Healy's special advice for Pat Cummins

Former Australia cricketer Ian Healy has advised the current Test skipper of Australia Pat Cummins to give up captaincy, arguing that the fast bowler should instead focus on cricket purely as a bowler. Former wicketkeeper-batter said that Cummins' captaincy has witnessed a slide against India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.

Australia have failed to retain or reclaim the coveted trophy for the fourth time in a row, and are lagging behind India in the four-match Test series 0-2. They are also yet to finalise their berth for the all-important World Test Championship Final, scheduled to be played from June 7.

'Want him to finish as a bowler': Ian Healy on Cummins

"I don’t want him carrying the burden of so much captaincy for too long. I want him to finish (as just a bowler),” the 58-year-old told SENQ’s Pat and Heals.

The former wicketkeeper-batter suggested that the pressure of captaincy was perhaps taking a mental toll on Cummins, and he should rather be focusing on improving his bowling. Balancing both captaincy and playing is indeed a daunting task and there was just no need for Cummins to unneccesary burden himself with such an important responsibility, Healy reasoned.

Moreover, Healy was of the opinion that the 29-year-old had already practised his stint as skipper in the red-ball format, though his ODI assignments against India are still due, and Healy would prefer seeing Cummins end his career on a high note as a brilliant bowler.

"The captaincy creates a burnout and four to five years is a long time as a captain. He’s done a few years (as Test captain) already, now he’s adding (short-form captaincy) to his thought processes at a time when he’s dealing with some sort of family illness back home. So yeah, I would like to see him finish his career as a tearaway fast bowler and someone else with the captaincy burden,” Healy argued.

Interestingly, when asked about a suitable replacement for the captaincy position for Cummins, Healy admitted there was a major dearth. But he did suggest the names such as Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell to shoulder the responsibility as possible skippers in two separate formats.

“I think Travis Head is quite capable. He’s led South Australia since he was a 21-year-old, he’s quite capable and has got a lot of experience,” Healy explained. “He’s the main one that stands out to me. The likes of Glenn Maxwell might be able to do parts of it (in the short form), but as far as longer-term captaincy prospects other than Travis Head, I can’t think (of any).”

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