Pat Cummins should be named Australia's Test captain: Shane Warne

Former Australian spinner Shane Warne has said that he feels it is the right time to make Pat Cummins the captain of the Australian men’s Test team. In a shocking turn of events, Tim Paine, who was in charge since the 2018 Ball-tampering incident stood down from captaincy. With the Ashes just about two weeks away, Australia now has a crisis to deal with before facing their arch-rivals. 

Several experts have felt that Cummins, who was previously named the vice-captain for the Ashes, should be named the skipper. The New South Wales pacer has been on Cricket Australia’s radar to be made the captain for some time. However, there are concerns over his workload and whether he would be able to balance being Australia’s most important bowler and their leader. 

Shane Warne recommends replacement for Paine but sympathizes with the outgoing captain

The spin wizard through his column expressed that he had Cummins in mind before an unfortunate fallout of Paine. “For me, the time is right to make Pat Cummins captain, something I thought even before the events of Friday unfolded,” Warne wrote in Australia’s The Daily Telegraph on Sunday. Warne suggested that Cummins’ appointment should also be accompanied by bringing in a new wicketkeeper.

Paine has made himself available for selection and has said he would want to play in the Ashes if he clears the fitness Test. However, Warne suggests otherwise. “The poster boy, respected and loved the world over, Pat Cummins should now be named captain, and either Matt Wade, Josh Inglis, or Alex Carey should get their chance to come in and play Paine’s role in the Test team,” Warne further wrote. 

Warne further made a case for Josh Inglis, who was recently part of the T20 World Cup-winning squad but didn’t play a single game. The former spin bowler feels that the Western Australian is ready to take his career to the next level. Warne did have some sympathetic feelings for Paine, the outgoing skipper, who stood down on the back of shocking revelation around a case of him sending lewd messages to a female co-worker. The incident dates back to 2017. 

“I’m not judging him on this incident. Just because Tim is in the public eye doesn’t mean he won’t make a mistake. Sportspersons are human, they have feelings. Let’s stop the judgment. It’s not our place to do that,” Warne urged fans to not judge the now-former Aussie skipper.