Jason Gillespie feels that Pat Cummins can best fill Mitchell Starc’s void

Following Mitchell Starc’s injury, which forced the Australian pace spearhead to return home for rehabilitation, Cricket Australia announced right-arm pacer Pat Cummins as his replacement. Starc’s injury is considered a huge blow for the visitors but former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie feels that the Australians have nothing to lose by opting for Pat Cummins in the third Test at Ranchi that starts on March 16.

“I don’t see what Australia have got to lose by playing him,” Gillespie told cricket.com.au backing Cummins who last played for Australia against South Africa in 2011. The 41-year old feels that Cummins can perfectly fill the void left by Mitchell Starc’s untimely departure.

Cummins’ inclusion in the squad has raised a few questions, after his disappointing performance in the Sheffield Shield. But the Aussie legend opines that the selectors should not let Cummins’ talent go to waste and instead utilise him in the field instead of making him a mere drinks carrier during the game.

“The selectors aren’t taking him over there for work experience. They’ve flown him over to play. I can’t see them taking him over just to carry the drinks.” He believes Cummins’ extra pace puts him ahead of the likes of Jackson Bird and that could be an advantage for the visitors against India in the remaining two Tests.

He recalled how the fast bowlers weren’t overworked in the first two Tests. If Australia need someone to bowl long spells on flat wickets, Jackson Bird can do it. But on the benign wickets, the different between Cummins and Bird is that the former bowls consistently 10 kmph quicker.

“I think Jackson Bird would do a commendable job, but I think the selectors will go with Pat. It’s the extra pace that I think could potentially unsettle the Indian batsman.” Jason concluded.