Sydney [Australia], January 2: Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, has praised star pacer Mitchell Starc, saying that the 34-year-old’s sole focus is to represent his country. Despite struggling with fitness during the Melbourne Test, where he experienced discomfort in his upper body, Starc remained in the playing XI after being cleared fit, despite rib soreness sustained in the fourth match of the series.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Cummins highlighted Starc’s incredible longevity and dedication, noting that he has bowled at speeds of 145km/h for nearly 15 years, which inevitably comes with its share of injuries and setbacks. “He has bowled at 145km/h for 15 years now, and bowled many overs. You don’t do that without dealing with various niggles and setbacks. He just grits his teeth and gets on with it. He’s the one player who never talks about being rested or rotated,” said Cummins.
Cummins described Starc as an ideal player for a captain to have, emphasizing that the pacer’s all-around skills make him an invaluable asset to the team. “He just wants to go out there and play for Australia. Even when he’s had quiet games and faced criticism, he just wants to turn up and play. I have huge admiration for that. As a bowler, he has adapted a lot over the years, especially in the last five. He now uses a wobble seam and plays his bouncers well. He’s not just about getting the ball full and swinging it to hit the front pad. He has a lot of different strengths. He even comes around the wicket to right-handers. He’s very proactive and knows his skill set well. As a captain, he’s an absolute dream to have,” Cummins added.
Australia will face India in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at the Sydney Cricket Ground starting January 3.
Australia’s XI: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.