NEWS
Follow UsAustralia A’s clash against India A was viewed as what could be a big clash in terms of selection. However, the Australian skipper Pat Cummins insisted that the clash only provides a final bit of information and won’t be a ‘clean-cut’ reason to give someone an opportunity. Despite being in the ODI squad, Cummins admitted to having kept a ‘keen eye’ on the A clash.
"I think it's like a final bit of information," Cummins said, reported ESPNCricinfo. "It's never as clean cut as a bat off. Some of these guys have only played a few games of Shield cricket, and then you've got other guys who have played over a decade.
However, Cummins also insisted that the last two weeks have become crucial in terms of preparation for the five-match Test series against India. There’s a strong chance that Nathan McSweeney could influence a selection for himself after a stellar showing in the first unofficial clash against India A, where he was 88*.
"That last couple of weeks, is it really important? It's got some importance, but it's not going to guide the 100% of the decision. So it's that final bit of decision.”
"In some regards, it's a lot of pressure on those last two games, which, whether you like it or not, it's probably what you're going to get in Test cricket anyway. So I suppose, again, whoever does get picked, they've experienced as much pressure as they might get in a Test debut anyway. So it means they are pretty well placed."
Also Read: McSweeney pushes his Test case in clinical win against India A
Is making a selection decision at the eleventh hour really a problem for Australia?
"I don't think it's a new problem. The good thing is, if it's, say, that one batting role that we're looking at, whoever's picked, they're going to come off the back of plenty of runs at the start of the year, you'd think, and they'll be well positioned,” he said.
“The reality is you try and make a debut as comfortable for someone as you can. But it's a Test debut. Whoever it is, they're going to be feeling nerves. So, yeah, it's not like they're going to wake up one morning and kind of be told they're playing. They'll certainly know at least a week or so out I'd imagine."
One thing that Cummins made clear was that no batter should be ‘super protective’ around a certain spot and should bring about the element of flexibility.
"Ronnie [Andrew McDonald] and I have said it quite a bit, we think the place where you bat isn't that important. You try and work out how the batting order as a whole is going to function best. And I don't think anyone should be super protective around a certain spot."
The first of the five-match Test series begins on November 22 (Friday) in Perth.
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