Cummins backs management of Australia’s quicks

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Cummins backs management of Australia’s quicks

Pat Cummins has backed the management of Australia’s star quicks leading into the blockbuster five-Test battle against India.

Cummins will make his first ODI appearance since the stunning World Cup final triumph in Ahmedabad last year when he leads Australia in Monday’s clash with Pakistan at the MCG.

The Test and ODI captain opted out of the September tour of the ******* Kingdom to rest after a monster 18 months of touring.

The 31-year-old and Mitchell Starc will put on the ********* clothes this week, while Josh Hazlewood is playing a Sheffield Shield match for NSW.

Cummins will also play the second ODI against Pakistan in Adelaide on Friday, but is unlikely to travel to Perth for the third and final game on Sunday.

There will be an extended break after the first Test against India in Perth, but the Brisbane match will start only three days after the day-nighter in Adelaide.

As usual, there is a short break between the Melbourne and Sydney Tests in the Christmas and New Year *******.

It will be the first five-Test series between Australia and India since 1991-92.

“(Starc and Hazlewood) were obviously in England, so they kind of kept bowling, and they were both keen to play red ball,” Cummins said.

“After this (three-match ODI) series (against Pakistan), it’s a little bit too close to the first Test.

“We made the decision to have an extra two weeks building up in the gym and prioritising that.

“I feel like the ODIs would give me a good lead in and there’s still two weeks before the first Test.

“We’ll make sure we do loads of red ball and centre wicket (practice).”

The three 50-over matches are a low-key way to begin the international summer, with attention already on how Australia can reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

But Cummins insists the games are good preparation for next year’s Champions Trophy.

Young blaster Jake Fraser-McGurk will open the batting with fellow Victorian-raised batter Matt Short in front of their home crowd at the MCG.

“What’s great with the T20s and some of the one-day squads recently is seeing some of those new players get opportunities and and do well,” Cummins said.

“And a few of us older blokes are still hanging on.

“Jake (Fraser-McGurk) and Aaron Hardie, and these sort of guys in their early 20s feel like one generation kind of past me.

“It’s always nice to see what they’re up to.”

AUSTRALIA XI AGAINST PAKISTAN ON MONDAY: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc.

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