Australia need seven wickets on the final day to win the opening Test of the summer against the West Indies – and they’re hoping to do it without their skipper.
Australia set the visitors a daunting 497 runs for victory in Perth and they need 306 to win, with captain Kraigg Braithwaite (101*) leading the charge.
But after lunch on day four, the Australian bowling attack took the field without Pat Cummins due to a quad complaint.
Speaking on Fox Sports News, presenter Kath Loughnan confirmed that Cummins would be permitted to bowl early in the morning session on Sunday, but Australia is hoping he won’t be required as the captain continues to recover from the minor injury.
“Pat Cummins is good to go, he will lead the team out this morning,” she said.
“However, he won’t bowl to begin with in the hope that others snare some early wickets.
“The 14 months ahead is such a hugely important and hectic time on the cricket calendar. They need and firing Pat Cummins.”
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Marnus Labuschagne – who backed up his first innings double ton with another century in the second – said Cummins will only bowl if they need him.
“I think what that shows is the importance of Test cricket – that Pat’s out there to bowl potentially tomorrow if we need him,” Labuschagne said.
“We talk a lot about where’s the value in Test cricket? Well we’ve just shown it. It’s the first Test of the summer.
“If we need to use that resource then we will, but ideally if he’s got a little bit of a niggle there then we want to make sure we can have him for the rest of the summer.
“It shows not to take any opposition or anyone for granted.”
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