AGENCIES
SYDNEY
Allan Border doubts Australia’s spinners can do the job in India, saying he would have picked speedster Pat Cummins to add firepower to the tourist’s attack. Former Test captain Border has lamented Cummins’ non-selection despite his history of injuries, saying selectors may have got the bowling balance wrong for the four-Test series.
“I personally would have taken a gamble on another paceman, probably Pat Cummins,” Border told SEN radio on Friday. “I think he’s ready to go. I’m not sure why they’re holding him back so much. I would have been very tempted to have that firepower bowling option.”
“If you use Pat Cummins properly, he’s only probably got to bowl 16 overs in a day. You just do it in four short bursts and you just let him rip.”
The tourists will take four frontline spinners to the subcontinent in February, including Nathan Lyon, Steve O’Keefe, Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson, with part-timer Glenn Maxwell another slow bowling option. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird will share the pace load with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.
Touring England’s pace attack gave India few troubles in their recent five-Test series, with Stuart Broad the best performer with eight wickets at an average of 31. But Border suggested Australia should rely on the strength of its highly touted fast bowlers to beat India rather than risk playing inexperienced spinners.
“If I’m a batsman, I know who I prefer to face, even on a turning track. I think he’s (Cummins) a guy who could get some reverse swing as well, which will be really key to doing well over there,” Border said. “I’m not sure whether they’re going to beat them just with spin options. They’ve got a phenomenally good batting line-up, India. To get our 20 wickets to win games, we’re going to have to show a lot more patience than we normally do.”
