Pat Cummins to replace Mitchell Starc in Australia Test squad

11 March, New Delhi

Aussie pacer Pat Cummins will replace injured pace spearhead Mitchell Starc for the remaining test series against India, Cricket Australia confirmed Saturday.

Cummins, who has played just a single Test against South Africa in 2011, emerged with impressive performance in Australian first class cricket for New South Wales.In a media release, selector Trevor Hohns said,”It’s unfortunate to lose Mitch out of the squad in India. In selecting Pat, we were looking for a strike bowling replacement option. Pat has impressed in his return to cricket this summer with consistent performances in his ODI, Twenty20 International and Big Bash matches.”

“He has also had a very good Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales, after six years off, where he made a notable Shield best 4-57 in the first innings, before bettering those figures in the second innings with 4-47 in his man-of-the-match performance,” added he.

Notably, Australia had suffered a huge blow before the third Test of the ongoing four-match rubber when Starc was ruled out of the remaining series with a fractured foot yesterday.