CARDIFF: Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins said on Monday he was glad to be able to call on team-mate Mitchell Starc for advice as he re-establishes himself as an international cricketer.

At the age of 25, left-arm quick Starc is hardly a veteran but, nevertheless, he is the world’s number one ranked bowler and was named player of the tournament for his starring role during Australia’s World Cup triumph on home soil earlier this year.

Australia are now set to face England in the five-match One-day International series starting in Southampton on Thursday after Monday’s lone Twenty20 in Cardiff saw the tourists go down to a five-run defeat.

But in his four-over spell in Cardiff the 22-year-old Cummins bowled at sharp pace, an encouraging sign given the injuries that have already blighted his career.

“I guess when you’re the No 1 bowler in the world you automatically become a leader and someone that people try and speak to,” Cummins said of Starc. “He’s great...His yorkers are probably one of the best in the world, so I talk to him a little bit about that.”

There was evidence of Starc’s influence in the way Cummins, beset by injury problems during the past five years, bowled Alex Hales with a full toss after the England opener appeared to struggle with his sheer speed.

Cummins said a simple adjustment to his run-up had also played a role in his ability to top the 90mph mark.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2015

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