ENG vs AUS: "If I'm The Coach Of The Team I'd Be Looking To Protect Him" - David Lloyd Backs Pat Cummins As Captain

Former England cricketer David Lloyd feels that Australian skipper Pat Cummins had a poor game as a captain and should move on without changing anything. David Lloyd stated that Pat Cummins should start afresh and bounce back to win the final game.

Pat Cummins failed to impress as a bowler and captain in the fourth Test match at Old Trafford in Manchester. The former cricketer criticized Cummins’ tactics and fielding changes in the match as the Ben Stokes-led team hammered the Australian bowling attack.

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Pat Cummins Is Absolutely Drained – David Lloyd

Speaking to SEN Breakfast Radio on Monday, David Lloyd felt that Pat Cummins should not be dropped or rested for the final match of the Ashes 2023 series.

“He (Cummins) is absolutely drained, I can tell you that. There is nothing in the tank. But, equally, if I’m the coach of the team I’d be looking to protect him,” David Lloyd said.

“I’d say, ‘OK, we’ve had a poor game, a real bad game, which can happen to any team, and we start again – the slate is clean.’ I wouldn’t jettison a captain (in) because he’s had a bad game and the team has had a bad game, I just wouldn’t do that,” he added.

Pat Cummins was the only Australian bowler to play all four matches in the ongoing series. The right-arm pacer picked up 16 wickets in the four matches with an average of 33.38. The pacer was only behind Stuart Broad in the leading wicket-takers list.

Also read: AUS vs ENG: “It’s A Tough Pill To Swallow” – Ben Stokes On Weather Dictating Outcome Of Test In Manchester

You Can’t Predict The Weather – David Lloyd

David Lloyd opened up about England’s decision not to declare their innings early, stating that they did the right thing by adding more pressure on Australia.

“They were absolutely on their knees, Australia. Arms flying everywhere, not a clue as to who is captaining the side. Certainly the captain went AWOL. You can’t predict the weather. We’ve had a shocking day,” he concluded.

The Ben Stokes-led team scored 592 runs in their first inning and took a 275-run lead. The hosts picked up five wickets against Australia in the second innings for 214 runs. However, the weather interrupted the game in the last two days and affected the outcome of the match.

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