Mitchell Starc believes Pat Cummins has cemented his spot forward of him within the Australian batting order after the captain starred in one other thrilling run chase.
Cummins saved Australia from an embarrassing defeat by guiding them to a two-wicket ODI win in opposition to Pakistan on the MCG on Monday evening.
Taking part in in his first ODI since final yr’s World Cup ultimate win, Cummins got here in with Australia reeling at 7 for 155 chasing simply 204.
However simply as he did twice throughout final yr’s World Cup in India, and in Check wins at Edgbaston in 2023 and Christchurch in March, Cummins confirmed he’s extra than simply among the best quicks of his era.
He scored an unbeaten 32 off 31 balls to steer Australia to victory with 99 balls left.
The 31-year-old has this yr undergone corrective eye surgical procedure, one thing Starc believes has helped his batting.
Starc’s skill to swing for the fences — he has extra Check sixes than the likes of Joe Root, Mark Waugh and Michael Clarke — has typically seen him on the high of the tail for Australia.
However the leftie mentioned Cummins’s current kind with the willow ought to make sure the captain leapfrogs him within the batting line-up, as he did on Monday evening, coming in at 9, with Starc dealing with 12 balls for 2 runs at quantity 10.
“Now he is received his eyes mounted,” Starc mentioned.
“We have been arguing for a pair years, effectively, I have been arguing that he ought to be batting above me. So he is cemented that, I hope.
“However, a incredible approach for him to carry it house.
“Clearly the intent in the beginning from the blokes [with their batting] was what we’re after, clearly a number of too many wickets, however a constructive begin to the summer time.”
Australia’s shot choice allow them to down as they tried to safe the win as shortly as attainable.
Matt Quick, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, and Aaron Hardie all fell in cavalier trend.
Pakistan tearaway Haris Rauf renewed his love affair with the MCG, dismissing Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in consecutive balls to show what seemed to be a simple run chase on its head.
Australia can wrap up the three-game collection by beating Pakistan on Friday evening on the Adelaide Oval.
The groups will then play three Twenty20s, earlier than Australia begins its Check summer time in opposition to India in Perth on November 22.
AAP
