Cummins cool, confident despite 'massive change'

Australia quick Pat Cummins concedes he is adjusting to a "massive change" despite already performing impressively as a first-change bowler at the World Cup.

Cummins shared the new ball with Mitchell Starc for Australia's first six matches of the tournament, but when Jason Behrendorff was slotted in against England to home in on what had been identified as a weakness against left-armers, the tactic proved so effective that the defending champions stuck with the same formula for the following match against New Zealand.

The upshot has been two convincing wins for Australia based largely off outstanding group bowling performances, spearheaded by a rampant Starc.

In those two matches, Starc and Behrendorff have taken 16 of the 20 wickets to fall, meaning the prospect of a shift in thinking for Australia's clash with South Africa on Saturday is unlikely.

Cummins' numbers as a first-change bowler are less impressive than when he has the new ball in hand, suggesting the New South Welshman is perhaps a victim of his own versatility; in 26 innings bowling first change, he has taken 34 wickets at an average of 33.91, a strike-rate of 37.5 and an economy rate of 5.43.

In the five-match series against India in March – when Starc was absent through injury – Cummins took the new ball and dominated the series, producing a stunning set of numbers: 17 wickets at an average of 11.58, a strike-rate of 16.0 and an economy rate of 4.34.

"I think it's a massive change," he said of the shift from new-ball to first-change bowler. "I think it's a lot different to say red-ball cricket where the ball kind of stays hard and there might be some swing on offer.

"I think it's kind of outside of those first eight to 10 overs, there is no swing, the ball is not as hard, normally the batters are set.

"It's a bit of a different game … Jason and Starcy have been brilliant up front. My role is to just try and hold them a little bit and hopefully they take a risk. It (feels) like I have done that job pretty well."

To that end, Cummins has indeed been effective. While he has only taken one wicket from 14 overs as a first-change bowler, his ability to restrict England and New Zealand to a combined runs-per-over return of 3.92 has been highly impressive, while the scorelines in those matches (England were bowled out for 221, New Zealand 157) indicates Australia have found a potent bowling combination.

"The thing we have spoken about, we have managed to scrape home wins without really putting through a complete performance," Cummins added. "With each game, we have got a little bit better.

"England was obviously a great game on Tuesday and then the four (bowlers against NZ were) brilliant, we have bowled really well together."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE