Twice in my 40+ years of watching cricket has a new fast bowler emerged who is clearly more promising than anybody else. Tall. Fast. A right-armer with a delicious outswinger.
The first one was Ian Bishop in 1989. He emerged at the same time as Waqar Younis, but even his team-mate Malcolm Marshall - the greatest quick bowler of all - had to admit that Bishop had attributes of height and bounce that would make him even better.
But Bishop's career was ruined by back fractures, and it was a slower Bishop with a less devastating action who limped through a spoiled career.
For six years I have fretted that Pat Cummins is going the same way. He has played some short-form cricket, where his away swing is redundant, but has had to watch while inferior bowlers like Wahab Starc and Glenn McHazlewood thrive.
Cummins had only ever played 6 First Class games before this week, including a Man of the Match performance in his Test debut in South Africa.
So finally this week he has played his first Sheffield Shield match for almost six years. With a slip cordon to give his away swing the menace it can't have in 20 or 50 overs cricket.
And he has taken 4-57 and 4-47 and scored 42.
As an Englishman, my antipathy towards Australian cricket is well documented. But if Patrick Cummins can stay fit and have the Test career he deserves, cricket will be the winner.
The first one was Ian Bishop in 1989. He emerged at the same time as Waqar Younis, but even his team-mate Malcolm Marshall - the greatest quick bowler of all - had to admit that Bishop had attributes of height and bounce that would make him even better.
But Bishop's career was ruined by back fractures, and it was a slower Bishop with a less devastating action who limped through a spoiled career.
For six years I have fretted that Pat Cummins is going the same way. He has played some short-form cricket, where his away swing is redundant, but has had to watch while inferior bowlers like Wahab Starc and Glenn McHazlewood thrive.
Cummins had only ever played 6 First Class games before this week, including a Man of the Match performance in his Test debut in South Africa.
So finally this week he has played his first Sheffield Shield match for almost six years. With a slip cordon to give his away swing the menace it can't have in 20 or 50 overs cricket.
And he has taken 4-57 and 4-47 and scored 42.
As an Englishman, my antipathy towards Australian cricket is well documented. But if Patrick Cummins can stay fit and have the Test career he deserves, cricket will be the winner.
