Former Australia cricketer Ian Healy has urged Pat Cummins to leave Test captaincy and focus solely on his fast-bowling skills. Cummins was appointed as Australia’s Test captain in November of 2021. The 29-year-old was made ODI skipper last year when Aaron Finch retired.
“I don’t want him carrying the burden of so much captaincy for too long. I want him to finish (as just a bowler). The captaincy creates a burnout and four to five years is a long time as a captain.”
“He’s done a few years (as Test captain) already, now he’s adding (short-form captaincy) to his thought processes at a time when he’s dealing with some sort of family illness back home. So yeah, I would like to see him finish his career as a tearaway fast bowler and someone else with the captaincy burden,” said Healy to the SEN Radio show on Friday.
Cummins, who has pulled out of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India in Indore due to a serious family illness, has played 49 Tests so far and claimed 217 wickets at an average of 21.51, including 8 five-wicket hauls.
On being asked who should be Cummins’ long-term successor, Healy feels left-handed batter Travis Head could be a suitable candidate.
“I think Travis Head is quite capable. He’s led South Australia since he was a 21-year-old, he’s quite capable and has got a lot of experience. He’s the main one that stands out to me,” he said.
