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Brydon Coverdale
October 17, 2011
Pat Cummins should be fast-tracked into Australia's starting line-up for the first Test in Cape Town, according to the former coach of South Africa, Mickey Arthur. Cummins, 18, has been named in Australia's squad for the two-Test tour of South Africa and will be Australia's second-youngest Test player of all time, behind Ian Craig, if he wins a baggy green.
Despite having played only three first-class matches, Cummins has impressed with his speed and his variations during his short career, including in his first two Twenty20s for Australia over the past week. Arthur, the mentor of Western Australia and a candidate to become Australia's head coach, said Cummins would form a formidable Test attack along with Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson.
"Pat Cummins has been fantastic," Arthur told ESPNcricinfo. "I think he should get a spot in the Test. If he's fit you've certainly got to play him. If you're good enough, you're old enough. I think he's going to be exceptional. He mixes it up, uses his variations.
"I saw him last year when we played a shell game at the SCG at the end of the year. Marcus North was one cent came out and said he was on bowling more support soon, he had faced since Test cricket. He changed his line of attack, he came into the office in Mitchell and Tom Marsh Beaton and rough them a little. I thought it was very, very good. "
Cummins has earned its place in the test team ahead of James Pattinson, who was part of the festival tour in Sri Lanka, and is likely to be pushed with his NSW teammate Trent Copeland for a place in the side. Arthur said the change provided by an attack of Cummins-Harris-Johnson would be difficult for batsmen in South Africa for management.
"I think the best attack in Australia would be Cummins, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson," he said. "They all offer something different. So you can have Shane Watson and all around, they decide to play.
"The variation of this attack is so good. You will have the bowler rapidly in Cummins, Mitch left arm, and a guy who comes to Harris cover drive. I think it's a very good combination."
Arthur was in charge of South Africa during the last tour of Australia in 2008-09 there when Johnson was a key figure in helping men Ricky Ponting to take the series 2-1. Johnson played with the aggression and the swing, the abuse of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis and finished in Australia's leading maker of window.
His recent form has not been as impressive, a disappointing Ashes series and a tour of Sri Lanka's poor have been left with 21 Test wickets at 41.28 during the past year. However, Johnson has accumulated five rings in the fourth round last week Thurs Sheffield Shield in Perth, Western Australia where the upset victory over Tasmania, and Arthur said he was in a preview of a good head space travel to South Africa.
"Mitch discomfort very well for us in the Shield game here," said Arthur. . "It was excellent, they hit the deck hard, angry at the right pace, he threw the ball at times - I thought that was where he loves to bowl in South Africa, and play well .. I think not.
"The key with the ball for Australia is Mitchell Johnson. Australia thrive off Mitchell Johnson. When he bowls well, Australia is doing well. Mitch is a very good head space right now. "
Australia, the players are just a test flight of October 27, although Harris and Michael Beer in Australia will be a little 'more, so Sheffield Shield game in the extra time. After the warm-up match Potchefstroom, Newlands The first test was held from November 9, before the teams head to test the second and final Johannesburg.
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