Australian cricket great Steve Waugh says it’s time to “find out” if a bowler can take on the reigns as captain, endorsing Pat Cummins to be handed the responsibility.
The last time a fast bowler captained Australia was back in 1956 when Ray Lindwall took over for one Test in India.
As the future of current skipper Tim Paine, who turns 37 next month and is making his way back from neck surgery, continues to be a hot topic, Cummins has continued to find his name brought up in the discussion.
The 28-year-old is currently the sole vice-captain of the Test side, having previously shared the role with Travis Head.
Waugh, a former Australian captain, says it’s time for Cummins to be given a look.
“I’d like to see Pat Cummins have an opportunity,” Waugh told SEN.
“They say bowlers can’t do it, but they said keepers couldn’t do it.
“I think we have to find out if a bowler can be a captain of Australia. I don’t see why not.”
Currently, Cummins is the No.1 ranked bowler in the world according to the ICC’s player rankings.
If he was to captain the side, Waugh suggested that the vice-captain sets the field when Cummins is bowling.
“I’ve always thought that if he’s bowling the vice-captain could set the field to give him a mental break,” Waugh added.
“He has good acumen, the respect of the players and he’s ready to go.
“I think when Tim Paine steps down, Pat Cummins is the man to step in.”
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Another former Australian captain, Michael Clarke, told Wide World of Sports last year that he would like to see Cummins handed the nod.
“I think he’d make a really good tactician as a captain. I didn’t captain too much before I captained Australia; I think the under-19s was the last time I had captained before I was given the opportunity to captain Australia,” Clarke said.
“I think the fact he’s now vice-captain he’ll be thinking like a captain, which will do him the world of good in preparation for if he does one day become captain.”