Can Starc’s Confidence in Cummins Spark Success in the Ashes?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mitchel Starc supports Pat Cummins despite his injury.
- Cummins is optimistic about his return to form.
- The team is focused on maintaining fitness leading into the Ashes.
- Starc highlights the differences in preparation styles among players.
- Scott Boland may step in if Cummins cannot play.
New Delhi, Oct 9 (NationPress) Veteran Australian pacer Mitchel Starc has expressed confidence in captain Pat Cummins, who remains hopeful about making a strong impact in the Ashes series. Despite not yet being cleared to start bowling, Cummins has shown the ability to regain his peak form and fitness swiftly. Cummins is expected to miss the opening match of the Ashes in Perth on November 21 due to a lower back injury. However, Starc mentioned that Cummins has been attending recent training sessions in Sydney, focusing on maintaining his core fitness as the summer approaches.
“He’s pretty level-headed. He’s been around a bit. Pat is sticking to his program and has a few people keeping an eye on his return. He’s in good spirits and remains ultra positive as always. There are still a few weeks left before we get to Perth for Test preparation. We hope to see a lot of him this summer and look forward to his contributions,” Starc said, as quoted by Fox Cricket.
“Playing alongside Pat and being close to him, he doesn’t require much time to get ready. Whether he bowls just a few warm-up deliveries and takes on the first over of the match, he knows how to switch on quickly. His preparation will look quite different from mine, and that’s something that comes with experience and age,” he added.
If Cummins is unable to play, Scott Boland is poised to step in, with the seasoned trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon likely to be part of the squad.
“Having spent considerable time with Josh Hazlewood, Pat, and Scotty Boland, we all have our own unique preparation styles. I sometimes feel the need to bowl more during practice, especially after breaks,” Starc concluded.