Michael Clarke in startling Pat Cummins selection claim at Cricket World Cup
The former Australian captain passed on the big rumour ahead of the must-win World Cup clash.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has claimed he heard talks Australia could be set to axe captain Pat Cummins from the starting XI against Sri Lanka at the World Cup. Australia currently sit last at this year's cricket World Cup having been humiliated in their opening two games against host's India and South Africa.
In the second game, wicketkeeper Alex Carey was dropped for Josh Inglis as Australia looked for answers to turn around their average form leading into the tournament. The change made little difference with Australia falling to their heaviest ever World Cup defeat to South Africa.
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Cummins came under fire during the match for his defensive tactics, which included criticism from Clarke. Against India, Cummins was criticised for his bowling changes. And in a bombshell claim, Clarke said he has heard talks that the captain himself might be dropped for the must-win clash against Sri Lanka.
“I heard last night that Pat Cummins is not going to be selected for this game,” Sky Sports Radio's The Big Sports Breakfast. “In two games, we’ve dropped our wicketkeeper... who is one of the most important people in your squad. So he got one game and got dropped. Now there’s talk we’re going to drop our captain.
“So in in two games our two most significant players in a squad on tour are going to be left out. Do you not know your best XI before you get to a World Cup? If Alex Carey is only given one game, he shouldn’t be in India. They shouldn’t have taken him.
"If Pat Cummins is going to get dropped and not captain the team, then you guys have selected the wrong captain.” It remains unconfirmed whether Cummins has been dropped, but it appears unlikely considering he is without a doubt one of the best bowlers in the world.
Clarke was fired up at the squad hierarchy with a number of decisions leaving the Australian team in a tough position to qualify for the knockout stages. While Clarke couldn't believe what he was hearing, he was himself critical of Cummins last week. Clarke backed Cummins as the captain going forward, but felt he made some odd calls during the South Africa loss.
“I fought harder than anyone for Pat Cummins to be Australian captain and I still stand here and say I think he’s the right man for the job but tactically last night I think he got it wrong again,” Clarke said last week.
“He won the toss and bowled, I think he ball chased and I don’t think he was aggressive enough. I don’t think he looked to take wickets. I feel like I’m wasting my breath. The easiest way to slow scoring is to take wickets yet we continue in Twenty20 cricket and one-day cricket, try to prevent runs.
“How is Pat Cummins not bowling in the first 10 overs? Or even if you’re going Glenn Maxwell, like we did, you’ve got to have a slip to the left hander? You’ve probably got to have a bat-pad to the right hander, like you’ve got to look to take wickets early. I love him and I’m more than happy for him to be captain but he’s got to do some work on that.”
Pat Cummins claims Aussies are 'desperate' at the World Cup
Despite the bombshell claim from Clarke on Monday morning, Cummins addressed the media
"No doubt we haven't been up to the standard that we'd like to hold. We've been outplayed both games," Cummins said ahead of the Sri Lanka clash. "When we're at our best, we're putting big runs on the board, we're putting the pressure back on the opposition, us bowlers are taking wickets through the middle.
"We haven't been able to pull any of that together so far. We know what makes us a really good team. It wasn't that long ago we were No.1 in the world.
"After the last game, everyone was a little bit flat. But the last couple of days have been really good. Everyone has rolled up their sleeves and want to get to work and make amends. The mood in the camp has been fantastic. Everyone is desperate to turn it around."
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