Australia make major changes for fourth Ashes test after Pat Cummins vow
Haircut sharper than a crocodile's love bite, Pat Cummins expects England to go funky at Old Trafford and admitted: “We're ready for anything.”
Through all the controversy, close shaves and rollicking entertainment of the last five weeks, Cummins has kept his eyes on the prize like a barber's clippers.
The Australian captain has had an eventful series, from hitting the winning runs at Edgbaston to being booed in the Long Room at Lord's and even having one of his players accused (wrongly) of having a trim in Leeds and leaving without paying for it.
The bill was settled online, but the Aussies still feel they have an account outstanding from four years ago: a first Ashes series win in England since 2001. Batting big gun Steve Smith says it's on his bucket list and Cummins said: “We drew the 2019 series and we've all come back pretty clear we want to win this one.”
Cummins has confirmed under-pressure opener David Warner has kept his place for the fourth Test, with Josh Hazlewood replacing Scott Boland in the pace attack.
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The Aussies have omitted specialist spinner Todd Murphy and recalled all-rounder Cameron Green. It means they go into a Test without a frontline spinner for the first time in 10 years, but bat so far down the order that England will need a submarine to reach the tail.
If England will come out swinging, with the latest Bazball moves likely to be funkier than a seventies disco if the Manchester weather lives up to the brochure, Cummins will relish the contest, grinning: “Hope so – that would be fun.
Todd Murphy has been dropped after one Test (Ashley Allen/Getty Images)“We're prepared for anything, really, but we'll just have to see how it plays out. We've already seen a lot of different things from both teams in this series. I'm sure this one will be another cracker with some random stuff thrown up.
“I've never been part of a series which has had so much positive attention – it seems to have been dialled up a bit more than the last one, and if we can win this one it will be right up there.”
As a fast bowler by trade, Cummins is in awe of England's new-ball attack with 78 years on the clock – Jimmy Anderson turns 41 a week on Sunday, while Stuart Broad is the current leading wicket-taker in this summer's Ashes at 37.
Jimmy Anderson is back on his home ground (Getty Images)The Aussies are planning to make them feel their advancing years by detaining them as long as possible in the field.
“Keeping them out there is always part of the conversation, not necessarily because of their age, but with most attacks the more overs you put into them, they can lose effectiveness,” said Cummins.
“Stuart Broad has obviously had a big workload this series, so we're in no rush. Five days is a long time and hopefully that means giving them plenty of overs.
“But it's an incredible feat for Jimmy to be at the top of his game, and still one of the world's best bowlers, at 41 – and the same goes for Broad in his high thirties. That's seriously impressive. Can I see myself making the new ball talk at 41? Probably not – I'm 30 and I feel 41.”
Australia team: Khawaja, Warner, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Green, Carey, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood.
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