Pat Cummins earlier this week became Australia’s first bowler Test captain in 65 years. The pacer said that he would like to focus only on Test leadership and limited overs captaincy  is “too much” for him. 

The 28-year-old replaced Tim Paine following after a ‘sexting’ scandal rocked Cricket Australia. Steve Smith took over as Cummins’ deputy. 

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Pat Cummins vouched for split captaincy as the away to go for the Australia cricket team, at least for the moment. 

Opener Aaron Finch currently leads the Australian limited-overs team. Under the 35-year-old’s leadership, the Kangaroos won their maiden T20 World Cup title earlier this month. 

“It’s probably too early to say, mainly because I start this role and see where we go. My gut feeling and preference at the moment is to have separate captains. I think it’s too much to ask, certainly of me. I’d love to just concentrate on test cricket.” Cummins was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.

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Talking about Finch, Cummins said that his colleague is doing a fantastic job. The pacer further added that it was best to have “someone who can take the white-ball squad teams to make it their own, take it in their own direction”.

“At the moment I’m purely focused on tests, that will stay the same” for the foreseeable future.

Aaron Finch is Australia’s likely leader for the T20 World Cup next year and the 50-overs World Cup in India in 2023. Cummins could well replace him post. 

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“I think until I walk out at the Gabba and see a big home crowd, pull on the Baggy Green (cap) and go out for the toss – that’s when it’ll probably hit me. It’s a bit of a weird feeling.”

The Ashes between Australia and England start from December 8 at the Gabba Stadium in Brisbane. Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth are the other venues of the series.