Pat Cummins has launched a passionate defence of chief selector George Bailey, denying he is is too close to the players and afraid of making tough calls.
Australia’s selectors are set to decide whether to make any unforced changes for the Boxing Day Test on Thursday, with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the balance at 1-1.
Bailey found himself in the headlines this week when former coach Darren Lehmann accused him of being too close to the Test side.
“Selectors have to be a little bit stronger’” Lehman told ABC Radio.
“In my opinion, (Bailey) is too close to the team. I would like him sitting up in a selector’s box somewhere, watching and making his own decisions.
“He likes it that way (being part of the squad) and that’s OK but my preference is the other way – for a selector to be able to make decisions within a selection group and deliver a hard message, make hard decisions if they have to for the betterment of Australian cricket.
“You can’t do that sometimes if you’re too close because you actually get too emotional and you care about the players. Sometimes you get too close and you forget about what’s out there.”
Bailey played alongside eight of Australia’s current team and is often seen sitting in the dugout with players during matches.
But Cummins rejected any suggestion that impacted his decision to make the tough calls, claiming Bailey had already done so since becoming the top selector in 2021.
“I don’t know how that (criticism) can be true,” the Test captain said.
“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.
“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.
Usman Khawaja is bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“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.”
There is already pressure on selectors to make hard calls in coming days, albeit with Cummins saying it was unfair to judge batters based on the second innings in Brisbane as Australia tried to set up the game.
Former South Australia coach Darren Berry has already called for selectors to axe Usman Khawaja for Melbourne and bring in teenage prodigy Sam Konstas.
At age 38, Khawaja has made scores of 8, 4, 13, 9no, 21 and 8 so far this summer and gone 11 Test innings since his last half-century.
Opening partner Nathan McSweeney is also yet to cement his future, with the best return from his first three Tests a gutsy 39 in Adelaide.
Marnus Labuschagne has also had questions asked of his form this summer with a top score of 64, but his spot appears safe.
Australia have carried Josh Inglis as a back-up batter in their Test squad this summer, while Konstas has hit 670 runs at 55.83 in long-form games this summer.
But Cummins has suggested the top order had in fact allowed the likes of No.5 Travis Head to walk to the wicket against an older ball in the first innings in both Adelaide and Brisbane.
“It seems like 5, 6 or 7 is where the bulk of runs are scored in Test cricket all around the world,” Cummins said.
“We’re not beholden to stats. We know there are easier times to bat, harder times to bat.
“You’re always looking at the best seven batters who are going to function as a unit and play as best they can.”
© AAP