Australian Test hopeful Pat Cummins says he hopes to bowl faster as he gets older, but won't be doing it at the expense of accuracy.
The 18-year-old pace prodigy is well in line for a baggy green debut in the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg starting on Thursday.
Peter Siddle is shaping as the likely man to miss out, however an out-of-form Mitchell Johnson isn't safe from the axe either.
Cummins is consistently knocking on the door of 150km/h, even as a teenager.
Watching his powerful delivery action, Cummins already looks physically strong beyond his years and he's hoping weights and growing into his body will result in faster speeds.
However, the NSW Blue Mountains product says bowling fast isn't necessarily his main aim when he charges into the crease.
"Not really consciously no. I guess if speed comes at the price of losing accuracy I don't think I'd want to bowl extra pace," he said.
"But I think it's something I have to see what happens. Hopefully I do, but I've got no idea whether strength work or fitness is going to get me any faster.
"I guess (speed being your aim) depends what your role is in the team and in the game.
"In four day and five day cricket it's harder to maintain the speeds all day and sometimes you can go at the price of plenty of runs.
"So it's all about doing your job and if you're in a spell with someone down the other end who is keeping it tight you might have the ability to try and rip in and try and start intimidating the batting."
Although the hype has died down a little since the limited overs portion of the tour, Cummins has had more written about him than almost any other player in the Australian squad in South Africa.
Vice-captain Shane Watson described him as the best prospect to come through the ranks in a decade, while former greats like Glenn McGrath have also sung his praises.
With expectation comes pressure, but Cummins says he's ready to live up to the headlines if he's given a start on Thursday.
"I guess in a way it helps," he said.
"Being young you're looked after a little bit more in the media I think so having a few of the older guys that I know a little bit come out and say some things, I guess it gives you extra confidence knowing you've got their support."
Cummins is a chance of being out on the field competing against the man he perceives as the best fast bowler in the world, South African Dale Steyn.
Potentially the second youngest debutant ever for Australia, Cummins says he is aiming for a career like the record-breaking Steyn.
"I hope I am a similar bowler, he's obviously unbelievable," said Cummins.
"He's someone you look up to and really try and strive towards."
No comments:
Post a Comment