Pat Cummins Hits Back At Darren Lehmann: Australian Captain Pat Cummins hits back at former player Darren Lehmann over the comments on Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey.
What Happened?
Lehmann, who retired from professional cricket in 2007, bashed George Bailey for being friendly with the squad. According to Lehmann, Bailey being overfriendly will create an emotional bond with the players, which in turn will negatively impact the selection process.
“A lot of players go too long before retiring or being forced out. Or selectors aren’t strong enough to actually stop players playing. Are players playing too long? History shows in the last little bit, maybe they have been,” Lehmann said on the ABC Sport commentary.
Lehmann also urged Bailey to work behind the curtains rather than being shoulder-to-shoulder with the players.
“In my opinion, he’s too close to the team. I would like him sitting up watching in a selectors’ box somewhere and be able to make his own decisions,” he added.
Pat Cummins Hits Back At Darren Lehmann
Bailey’s work process is unseen in cricket, as selectors are not normally seen following the team during the tours. Bailey keeps a strong bond with the skipper Cummins, who sees the former’s presence on the tour as a positive thing. According to Cummins, Bailey watching the games so closely would help him make better decisions in selecting the squads.
“I don’t know how that (criticism) can be true. There is so much more to picking a side than just looking at the internet. Going on with really strong philosophies, working with players. The most important thing is you do stay objective and I think the selection panel are amazing at that,” Cummins told reporters after the third Test (via Yahoo Sports)
It seems like Cumins is right about Bailey, as under his reign, the Kangaroos have won major trophies, including the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC).
Bailey’s reign as selector has seen silverware coming their way. The nation bagged both the World Test Championship (WTC) and the ODI World Cup in the same year in 2023, with the trio of Cummins, Bailey, and McDonald playing a huge role behind the scenes.
The Australian cricket team has become a mix of experience and youth with many young bloods coming into the squad under Bailey’s regime. Cummins points out that.
“They’ve made some really bold calls over the past couple of years in all formats. Probably bolder than I have seen other selectors make in previous years. They’ve never shied away from a tough decision. What George brings to the role is amazing and I think you would hear that from guys in the side, but also from state guys as well,” Cummins added
Australia is now playing against India in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After losing the first Test, the Kangaroos came back strong in the second Test to tie the series. The 3rd Test ended in a draw. The 4th BGT Test will be played on Boxing Day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
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