Ashes 2017/18: Pat Cummins Aims to Emulate Mitchell Johnson of 2013/14

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins, who was ravaged by multiple injuries, is aiming to repeat what speedster Mitchell Johnson did with the red-ball in Ashes 2013-14 season at home.

“We saw what Mitchell Johnson did last time in the Ashes over here,” Cummins’ comments were published in Cricket Australia digital platform.

While talking to reporters in Brisbane, Cummins also expressed satisfaction with his physical fitness which motivates him to replicate and induce more fear among the Three Lions batsmen with Ashes to kick off next week.

“My body hasn’t been in the position where I can play all the time, where at the moment I feel like I am now,” Cummins maintained.

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Moreover, the chief architect with the ball, Johnson was the catalyst of Australia when the hosts routed England 5-0, as the left-arm pace gun claimed 37 wickets in the traditional five-match series four years ago.

Aiming to follow in the footsteps of Johnson, Cummins, who has witnessed a major setback, has already shown quality improvement since his return to the top-flight cricket earlier.

“It probably gave me a little bit of confidence and a little bit of patience. Now I’m at the stage where I don’t have to worry about it,” Cummins added.

The 24-year-old bowler is in the best shape to deliver for Australia in the impending Ashes 20171-18 which will get underway with the first Test on November 23 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

It’s pertinent to mention, Cummins made his Test comeback in March this year with Ranchi Test against India after struggling with back injury.

“I know Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee were similar. They missed a lot of cricket early in their careers,” Cummins further added.

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Interestingly, Australia is termed as the firm favourites, as Cummins is raring to go and deliver the desired results while donning the white jersey.

Cummins would play first Test little over six years on home soil after making his Test debut in November 2011 against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Cummins best figures with the ball in five-day cricket came in his very first Test when he claimed six wickets in 29 overs after conceding 79 runs. He finished the match with seven wickets under his belt.

“Hearing Nathan Lyon and a few of the guys saying that was the toughest days of cricket they have played gave me a lot of confidence,” Cummins said of Bangladesh Test series.

Following the successful return particularly in the Test format, Cummins did well against India and then in Bangladesh in the last quarter of the ongoing year.

With Cummins excited to play at home, the right-arm had already witnessed the highs and lows during his early days of international career.

Cummins will witness the new-ball duo Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood starting off the proceedings for Australia, as he would shoulder the responsibility in the middle part of an innings.

“I would love to be that bowler – along with ‘Starcy’ as well,” Cummins asserted.

As of now, the trio has been rested during the ongoing third round before the Ashes cricket carnival is expected to draw the record turnout in the stadium.

“I am able to sustain spells a bit longer. More than anything I have learnt about those different gears,” Cummins concluded.

So far, Cummins featured in five Tests for Australia in which he collected 21 wickets at an average of 25.38 runs.

On the other side, Cummins played 36 ODIs and 18 Twenty20 Internationals since October 19, 2011, when he faced the Proteas in Centurion.