Former Australian ace Brett Lee questioned Australia’s decision to drop Patt Cummins in the 3rd ODI against India. The Australians clinched the three-match ODI series after winning back-to-back games in the first two games. Aaron Finch rested his first-choice bowler Pat Cummins in the last of the series, in which the “Men in Blue” clinched their first win.
Pat Cummins was also not involved in the first T20 clash between Australia and India. India bagged the first outing in the game of three and requires only one more win to seal the T20i series. Pat Cummins is set to miss the rest of the T20 games due to a part of his workload management. However, Brett Lee recently claimed that it does not look like Cummins’ decision to get rested from the last ODI and the T20i series.
Australia vs India: Brett Lee Criticizes Australian Board
“It probably wouldn’t have been his call, he probably would have wanted to play, the players generally want to play,” Lee told Foxsports.com.au. “I would have thought after a couple of games they shouldn’t be tired. I always found that for my rhythm personally that the more games I played the better rhythm I had,” Lee added. Australia lost the third ODI by 13 runs and the 1st T20 by 11 runs.
According to the 44-year-old veteran bowler, a player should be handed rest if he is injured or else it does not makes any sense to not include him in the team. “If I had a week’s break, whether it be a break in the tournament or whether I was rested, it’s almost like you’ve got to go back and find that rhythm again,” he said.
“There could be a guy who is carrying a hamstring injury or a little niggle, shoulder might be a bit sore, and the best way to get them into their best preparation is to have a few days off. “That’s fine but if they’re fully fit they should be playing.” Cummins struggled to find any success in the first ODI but managed to pocket 3 wickets in the second one.
Brett Lee is optimistic that Cummins has got his confidence back and is expecting him to continue with the fine form throughout the summer. Cummins managed to take nine wickets in his last 4 IPL games. Australia’s legend Shane Warne also slammed the board for dropping Cummins and stated that players are priortizing IPL over national duty.
“I know it is a big summer that we have and it is pretty jam-packed, but I don’t think Australian players should be resting after two games,” Warne had said. “Why are they resting? Is it because they played IPL? So they are allowed to go and play all these games in the IPL and then they need a rest because they have been playing in IPL?” he asked.
“Surely playing for Australia is more important than playing in the IPL. So I would say you should choose. Either miss the IPL or you cannot miss games because you need a break coming off an IPL for an Australian game.”
