AUS vs ENG: "You've Got To Have A Thick Skin" - Pat Cummins On Captaincy Criticism

Australian skipper Pat Cummins will lead his side in the fifth and final Test in Manchester looking for a 3-1 victory in the Ashes series. They are currently ahead by 2-1 courtesy of winning the first two Test matches.

Addressing the pre-match press conference, Pat Cummins spoke about his key players being match fit. He confirmed that the likes of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh are fit and available selection.

Despite being ahead in the series, Cummins and to cope with criticism after Australia’s tactics of playing catch-up cricket were under the radar. They were bowled out for just 317 in the first innings in Manchester despite the middle-order gatting runs which started the debate.

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“I honestly haven’t read anything. A few things have come across my desk from the boys having a laugh. I’ve been in this job two years now, and you learn pretty quickly that you’ve got to have a thick skin,” Sydney Morning Herald quoted Cummins as saying.

He further said that having the back of his teammates and support staff is important as he is not willing to answer anyone on the decisions that he makes on the field.

“It’s such a great bunch of players and staff here that we all know what everyone is about and how we are going to go about it, and for me, that’s more important than anything else. I’m not going to please everyone and everyone’s got opinions, but they aren’t facts, they’re opinions,” Cummins added.

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Captaincy Does Have A Shelf Life: Pat Cummins

The Australian skipper said that he will step down from captaincy before retiring as a player but he will not do that anytime soon. He said that on the back of his tough spell in Manchester where he went for 129 runs in 23 overs taking just one wicket.

“I think it does have a shelf life. I won’t put a date on it, I’ve got to get there first. I feel like every Test match I learn quite a bit, you just get exposed to more things with each game. I’m loving working with this team and the staff. Enjoying it at the moment, we’ll see what the future holds. I feel like with each game I’m getting better and I think there’s a fair bit more left in me,” Cummins concluded saying on captaincy.

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