Pat Cummins is the frontrunner to succeed Tim Paine as Australia’s next Test skipper ahead of the Ashes 2021-22. Paine stepped down from captaincy following a sex scandal which was proved against him. Steve Smith is also in the radar to succeed Paine and regain his captaincy which he took lost amid a cloud of controversy.

Meanwhile, former England skipper Michael Atherton has spoken about the possibility of Pat Cummins taking over the captaincy from Tim Paine. In his column for the Times, Atherton hs said Cummins can take a team alongside him and make them perform.

“Australia now find themselves without a captain less than three weeks before the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane. Pat Cummins, the 28-year-old fast bowler from New South Wales, is the vice-captain and is almost certain to be given the job for the series. As well as being a brilliant bowler, ranked No 1 in the world in Tests and one of the fastest, Cummins is an intelligent, widely admired character, with an interesting hinterland that includes a business degree, and is someone who is expected to provide sound leadership off the field.”

Pat Cummins Has Got Over With His Injuries: Michael Atherton

Atherton also pointed out Cummins’ opinion on rotating the pacers throughout the Test series which he sees as an advantage for the England side.

“While Cummins seems now to have got over the injuries that dogged him as a young man, he said recently said that he did not expect Australia’s feared pace attack — Cummins himself, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc — to play in all those five Tests. What then is Australia’s plan B if rest, rotation or injury strikes? England will view any potential upheaval to their advantage.”

Along with Pat Cummins, Steve Smith is also close to being reappointed as captain. He is another option given that he became eligible for the captaincy after the ball-tampering ban was lifted unlike his teammate David Warner.

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