Pat Cummins defends Test selectors after Darren Lehmann’s criticism

Pat Cummins has launched a passionate defence of chief selector George Bailey, denying he is is too close to the players and afraid of making tough calls.

Australia’s selectors are set to decide whether to make any unforced changes for the Boxing Day Test on Thursday, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the balance at 1-1.

Bailey found himself in the headlines this week when former coach Darren Lehmann accused him of being too close to the Test side on ABC Radio.

Bailey played alongside eight of Australia’s current team and is often seen sitting in the dugout with players during matches.

But Cummins rejected any suggestion that impacted his decision to make the tough calls, claiming Bailey had already done so since becoming the top selector in 2021.

“I don’t know how that [criticism] can be true,” the Test captain said.

“There is so much more to picking a side than just looking at the internet. Going on with really strong philosophies, working with players.

“The most important thing is you do stay objective and I think the selection panel are amazing at that.

“They’ve made some really bold calls over the past couple of years in all formats. Probably bolder than I have seen other selectors make in previous years.

“They’ve never shied away from a tough decision.

“What George brings to the role is amazing and I think you would hear that from guys in the side, but also from state guys as well.”

There is already pressure on selectors to make hard calls in coming days, albeit with Cummins saying it was unfair to judge batters based on the second innings in Brisbane as Australia tried to set up the game.

Former South Australia coach Darren Berry has already called for selectors to axe Usman Khawaja for Melbourne and bring in teenage prodigy Sam Konstas.

At age 38, Khawaja has made scores of 8, 4, 13, 9no, 21 and 8 so far this summer and gone 11 Test innings since his last half-century.

Opening partner Nathan McSweeney is also yet to cement his future, with the best return from his first three Tests a gutsy 39 in Adelaide.

Marnus Labuschagne has also had questions asked of his form this summer with a top score of 64, but his spot appears safe.

Australia have carried Josh Inglis as a back-up batter in their Test squad this summer, while Konstas has hit 670 runs at 55.83 in long-form games this summer.

But Cummins has suggested the top order had in fact allowed the likes of number five Travis Head to walk to the wicket against an older ball in the first innings in both Adelaide and Brisbane.

“It seems like 5, 6 or 7 is where the bulk of runs are scored in Test cricket all around the world,” Cummins said.

“We’re not beholden to stats. We know there are easier times to bat, harder times to bat.

“You’re always looking at the best seven batters who are going to function as a unit and play as best they can.”

Cummins also defended Mitch Marsh as being a valid option with the ball and declared that both he and Mitchell Starc will be able to play all five Tests this summer.

After Josh Hazlewood strained his calf on the morning of day four in Brisbane, Marsh was still only used for two overs as Cummins and Starc did the bulk of the work.

Australia’s team staff put that largely down to weather delays keeping the two front-liners fresh, as they bowled 48.1 of the 80 overs India faced in the drawn Test.

With Hazlewood injured, the duo’s fitness now looms as crucial for Australia in the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Nothing is for certain, we’ll see how we pull up. But today we’re fine and I can’t imagine that changing,” Cummins said.

“We’re feeling really good, it was hot [Tuesday] but we’d had about seven days or so off bowling after Adelaide so we were fresh and ready to go.

“If anything, the rain breaks actually helped us get a bit of a break.”

Starc and Cummins have now bowled 90 overs each for the summer, while Marsh has contributed 23 as an all-rounder.

The West Australian had battled back soreness early in the summer, prompting Beau Webster to be called into the Test squad as cover.

But Marsh indicated he was now clear of that in the lead up to the Gabba.

Cummins said the limited use of Marsh had nothing to do with his bowling ability or fitness, but was more tactical in case he was needed in the fourth innings.

“It was a bit of an eye to the second innings, with a fresh new ball, we would have leant on Mitchy a lot to try and take those 10 wickets,” Cummins said.

“It’s always a bonus having the all-rounders.

“I suspect we will call on Mitchy enough in the next few Tests to get us a breakthrough or two when we need it.”

AAP/ABC