Cummins floats changes despite bold Aussie selections paying off
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Australian captain Pat Cummins has backed his side’s selectors after their decisions were rewarded with a first Test win in Durban.
Cummins also didn’t rule out the possibility of Matt Renshaw opening the batting in the second Test despite his heroics at No.5 with scores of 190 and 82.
Matt Renshaw and Pat Cummins. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
Australia took the upper hand in its three-Test series with South Africa, winning the first match by 214 runs.
Nic Maddinson scored 48 in the second innings after a 33-ball duck in the first and his selection allowed for Renshaw to move to No.5.
Maddinson didn’t set the world on fire but the win should calm the criticism after Matthew Hayden said selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide were “promoting the biggest pile of mediocrity”.
“I feel like every Test match at the start there’s a bit of conversation going on,” Cummins smiled post-match.
“First Test of a big series there’s always a lot being said. I don’t feel any different because of that.
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“For someone like Maddo it was good to see him get a bit of time out there in the second innings, opening the batting day one as a Test batter, that’s as hard a Test you’re going to get.
“We didn’t read into that too far ... kudos to the selectors, whenever you’re presented with a problem, it’s how you go about solving it and I think George, Ronny (Andrew McDonald) and Dods keep finding ways to solve them.”
The first Test will forever be recognised as the second coming of Renshaw, who ended a nine-year century drought in the format.
Josh Hazlewood claimed career-best figures with 6-49 in the final innings to bowl South Africa out for 206 on day five.
Renshaw also took two wickets in the second innings, dismissing Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne.
“He is having a dream Test,” commentator Nat Germanos said on SuperSport when he dismissed Verreynne.
Pat Cummins in his press conference. cricket.com.au
The final day at Kingsmead started with South Africa 4-102 needing 421 to win.
Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder decided to get stuck in and frustrate Australia early in the day, soaking up overs.
However, Mulder was brought undone in a moment of agony, strangled down the legside by Hazlewood with Alex Carey taking a superb one-handed catch. The all-rounder departed for 29 off 110 balls before Verreynne was gone in the next over off Renshaw.
At lunch, South Africa was 6-166 and still in the hunt for a draw, but the new ball came out nine overs after the break.
That changed the fortunes of the Test with Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc (1-33) ripping through the rest of the batters. Starc was the man to dismiss Markram, who was caught behind for 75 off 237 balls.
Renshaw finished player of the match and said he was feeling “pretty tired”.
“It’s been a long five days, and a long time since playing a five-day Test match so it was nice to be able to contribute,” he said.
Back in touch: Nic Maddinson cracked 48 in Australia’s second innings in Durban. AP Photo/Themba Hadebe
The left-hander’s role in the team was changed to batting at No.5 with Maddinson selected to open.
Australia’s decision for the next Test will be interesting if Cameron Green is deemed fit.
Maddinson scored a quickfire 48 at the top of the order in the second innings and could retain his spot. Renshaw also showed how valuable he is at handling spin in the middle of the order.
That situation leaves Beau Webster in a vulnerable spot after he scored 4 and 39 not out with the chance for Green to possibly bat at No.6 and Alex Carey sliding back to No.7.
Renshaw was happy to be a team player after his appearance in the middle.
“It was pretty nice, it’s a bit different to open the batting but I’m happy to do what the team needs me to do,” he said.
Cummins wasn’t willing to lock in that any of his batters would bat in the same spot over the next Test.
“We’re always big on how the order functions as a whole,” Cummins said.
“Seeing the way that (Renshaw) played spin in the one-day series led me to the thought he would look pretty good at No.5.
“Give us a few days, we’ll look at the conditions of the next Test and whether that’s still the case. I mean, it’s got to be pretty compelling to move him from there. But we’ve seen Travis Head down at number five do a job.
“We’re always working out the six batters or seven plus Kez (Alex Carey). How’s that going to function as a whole?
“So if anything, I still think he can be a great opener, and now he’s got another string to his bow.”
Cummins added the need for flexibility became part of the thinking with Maddinson’s selection.
“So particularly between me and Ron, and you know, George as a selector as well, we kind of nut out what we think is going to be the best batting order,” he said.
“We’re pretty certain that, yeah, we like Marnus at three, Smithy at four, and then the six and seven felt pretty locked up.
“So I think bringing Maddo in, we really like the idea of bringing that flexibility. That unlocks a lot – Trav back to No.5, Renners down at No.5, even Maddo himself at No.5.
“We haven’t had that option the last few years where we feel like we’ve got plenty of options at the top. You know we’re very big on that flexibility.
“I know you’re sick of us talking about it, but why not next week have different openers with the conditions somewhat different, or swapping out the batting orders between innings? I think having the structure that we do now with a few guys that can open, that’s really unlocked it.”
