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Aussie Ashes great expects Test rest for Cummins

Former quick Johnson believes tourists will rest the world's number one bowler for the next Test at Headingley

The physical toll of Pat Cummins' bouncer barrage on day two at Lord's could force the vice-captain to be rested for the third Test in Leeds, according to former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Cummins ruthlessly bounced England's batters in his 21 overs on Thursday, hitting opener Rory Burns (thrice) and No.4 Joe Denly, and also striking allrounder Chris Woakes flush in the helmet while digging it in short at the hosts' vulnerable tailenders.

It was a carbon copy of the plan that worked wonders in the 2017-18 Ashes where Cummins mercilessly bounced England's batting unit, particularly the lower order, in the 4-0 series win.

While Australia's selectors have demonstrated they are willing to interchange their fast bowlers to best suit specific conditions and prevent overuse injuries, Cummins – the world's No.1 Test bowler – appears an exception to the rule as the squad's most complete and durable quick.

Coach Justin Langer said Cummins would "ideally" play the entire series but admitted it might not be "humanly possible" for a fast bowler – not even one of Cummins' immense athletic ability – to make it through five Tests in less than seven weeks.

But Johnson, one of his generation's most feared and hostile fast bowlers, says Cummins might not be able to back up for next week's third Test at Headingley, having put his body through the ringer bowling long spells of short-pitched bowling.

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"I've got a feeling they will rest him after the way he bowled in this Test," Johnson told cricket.com.au at Lord's on Friday.

"I found that strange because he hasn't bowled like that for a long time, a lot of bouncers.

"We know he can bowl fast and aggressive but he's gone the other way – he's gone a bit more within himself and still hits the deck hard, bowls above 140kph.

"He's been consistent with a good stock ball and an occasional bouncer, but he went bloody hard and it would have taken it out of him."

According to CricViz data, 69 per cent of Cummins' deliveries in the first innings at Lord's were considered short balls (more than eight metres from the striker's stumps).

That is significantly up from the Domain Test series against India last summer at home, where 44 per cent of his deliveries were short, which then rose to 51 per cent against Sri Lanka in the following series.

But in the 2017-18 Ashes, where Cummins bombarded Joe Root's side, only half of his deliveries were deemed short.

Johnson says the extra effort required to bowl a bouncer is physically taxing and potentially harmful.

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"You've got to mean to bowl a bouncer," he said. "If you just put it there it will get smacked.

"Cummins started to get a bit wayward at the back end of his spell because he would have been tired.

"But what it also does is increases the risk of injury because he's got to load up higher, twist a little bit more and put more into every ball."

However, what could save Cummins is the wet weather in London this week.

Following the total washout on day one, the 26-year-old got to put his feet up all Friday as Australia batted through to lunch before rain washed out the remainder of play.

Days without bowling are like gold for fast bowlers, so should Cummins have a light bowling workload across the final two days of the second Test, his chances of playing in Leeds will increase.

But if Cummins does need a rest, Australia are fortunate to have the likes of James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser waiting in the wings, with Josh Hazlewood firing on all cylinders in his Test comeback and veteran Peter Siddle as reliable as ever. 

"You could rest Cummins next game because you've got Hazlewood bowling well, with maybe Pattinson or Starc coming in depending on how aggressive they want to go," Johnson added.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia beat England by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval