Pat Cummins fires back at Darren Lehmann as Travis Head makes call on playing fourth Test
Cummins has shut down claims George Bailey is too close to the players to make hard calls.
Pat Cummins has leapt to the defence of chief selector George Bailey amid claims from former Aussie coach Darren Lehmann that he is too cosy with the Australian playing group. With several questions remaining over certain members of the Australian Test squad, Lehmann pointed the finger at Bailey and suggested he isn't the right man to make the tough calls as he is too close with the players.
The former coach's comments come as 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 hanging in the balance at 1-1. Bailey played alongside eight of Australia's current team and is often seen sitting in the dugout with players during matches. And the vision of him sharing a laugh with the playing group didn't sit right with Lehmann.
“In my opinion, he’s too close to the team,” Lehmann said on ABC Sport. “I would like him sitting up watching in a selectors’ box somewhere and be able to make his own decisions.
“My preference is for the selector to be able to make decisions within a selection group and deliver a hard message if they have to. Make a hard decision if they have to for the betterment of Australian cricket. Now, you can’t do that sometimes if you’re too close because you actually get too emotional and you care about the players. As a selector, I cared about the players, as a coach you do, but sometimes you actually get too close and you forget about what’s out there.”
But Cummins rejected any suggestion that it impacts his ability 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 are several question marks over who should keep their spot in the team and who should be dropped, with a player needing to come in to replace Josh Hazlewood who is out with injury, while several others are out of form. Former South Australia coach Darren Berry has already called for selectors to axe Usman Khawaja for Melbourne and bring in teenage prodigy Sam Konstas, while his opening partner Nathan McSweeney is yet to shine, with a high score of just 39 for Australia.
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 backup batter in their Test squad this summer, while Konstas has hit 670 runs at 55.83 in long-form games this summer.
Travis Head is expected to play in the fourth Test
Meanwhile, concerns around the fitness of Australia's standout batsman Travis Head have been eased, with trainers confident he will be ready for the Boxing Day Test. Aussie fans feared the worst when the star was seen in some discomfort after playing a shot through the offside in his third-innings 17 at the Gabba.
Television replays showed the 30-year-old stretching out his leg after he moved slowly to the non-striker's end and concerns only intensified when Head didn't take to the field after Australia declared on the final day.
But Australian team staff moved quickly to dismiss any talk of the left-hander being in doubt for Melbourne, and Head insists it isn't a major concern. "It's been a big couple of weeks, a bit sore," Head said. "But I will be fine."
Head has carried Australia's batting on his shoulders this series with 409 runs at an average of 81.2. His 140 in Adelaide set up the 10-wicket win and he backed that up with a blistering 152 at the Gabba to put the hosts in an impregnable position.
The South Australian has been the player of the match in both of those Tests. And even in the 295-run loss in Perth, he was the best of the Australians with the bat, scoring a second-inning 89.
with AAP
