It was a smart decision by Cummins to bowl to Travis Head: Tim Paine

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Kolkata. Former Australian cricketer Tim Paine has praised Pat Cummins for the courageous decision to include Travis Head in the bowling attack in the second semi-final against South Africa in the ICC ODI World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. ,

When South Africa were 4/111, Cummins brought Head into the attack, with David Miller (48 not out) and Heinrich Klaasen (39 not out) establishing a partnership after their top-order struggled. South Africa had a poor start and were at 4/24 at one stage.

Head dismissed Klaasen for 47 and then got the wicket of Marco Johnson for a golden duck on the very next ball.

Head finished with figures of 2/2 from his five overs as the Australians bowled out South Africa for 212.

“When he brought in Travis Head, it was a bold move because Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller were in and they were building a bit of a partnership,” Paine said on SEN Mornings.

“They are probably two of the most dangerous and best players of spin.

“To give the ball to ‘Heady’ for Pat Cummins, I mean, Heady can bowl, he’s got some skills, he bowls like an off-spinner, but he can bowl balls that bowl very good players. She can get out and we saw that last night.”

Paine emphasized that Cummins is the real hero here. He is the one who took important decisions under intense pressure during the heat of the match.

Paine said, “We were laughing at first because one of the biggest things that was picked up on social media last night was that Ricky Ponting and Aaron Finch were sitting in the commentary box and saying, ‘Oh, I think. “This would be a good time to potentially have Travis Head bowl.”

“It became the story on social media, not the fact that Pat Cummins – the guy who was angry and who made the decision to bring in Travis Head – didn’t get as much credit as I thought he should have.

“I thought it was a super call, it was a bold call and it paid off. Obviously Travis Head did a lot for him.”

Australia defeated South Africa by 3 wickets to reach the final against India on 19 November.

-IANS

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