Ashes 2021: Australia’s new Test captain Pat Cummins has slammed Australian media on Tim Paine’s sexting scandal and also expressed a little disappointment at Cricket Australia’s handling of the drama. Although Cummins didn’t criticise the lack of support shown by Cricket Australia but said being perfect is unreasonable and too much to ask of anyone.
Tim Paine, who stepped down from the captaincy role due to a sexting scandal with a Cricket Tasmania co-worker back in 2017, is taking an indefinite break from the cricket and is said to miss the Ashes 2021.
Ashes 2021: Newly appointed captain Pat Cummins backs Tim Paine, slams media for ‘unreasonable expectation’
Speaking to reporters on the notion of being a perfect Cricket Australia captain, Pat Cummins, who was named Australia’s new Test Captain on Friday, said being perfect is unreasonable and this expectation needs to be abandoned.
Cummins said, “I’d say I’m not overly comfortable all the time about that. I think that’s probably really hit home in the last few days seeing Tim.
“I think a lot of the pressure and the responsibility on being perfect is unreasonable. I think it’s too much to ask of anyone. You’ve got to have permission to grow, ” he further added.
Cummins further put weight on handling such scandals and said players should be forgiven for minor mistakes, especially the younger players who will be coming into the setup.
“We’re going to have players coming into the side who are teenagers, fresh out of school. They’ve got to be allowed to fail and know that they’re allowed to grow from that,” he said.
“I think at times it sends a bad message that everyone’s perfect and that no one has got any flaws. I’m certainly going to be standing up for players if they make some minor mistakes – they’re opportunities to grow from. They’re not always ideal but they happen.
“I think we’ve got to manage our expectations of everyone a bit more. I think we’ve got to be a bit kinder and a bit more understanding at times, Cummins said.
Meanwhile, it is the first time in the last 64 years that Australia will have a fast bowler as its captain. Cummins, 28, will lead Australia in the forthcoming Ashes series that begins on December 08 at The Gabba. Former Aussie skipper Steve Smith has been appointed as vice-captain of the side and will assist Cummins on the field.
Tim Paine’s indefinite break from cricket:
A statement released on Friday morning by Tasmania read: “Following discussions over the last 24 hours, Tim Paine has advised Cricket Tasmania that he will be taking a leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future”
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