Warner expects pacer Cummins to rise to the challenge against India

Australian opener David Warner on Saturday said New South Wales pacer Patrick Cummins, who was named as the replacement for injured Mitchell Starc, will bring firepower to their side which the visitors needed for the upcoming Tests against India.

After Starc was ruled out of the series with a fractured foot on Friday, Cummins was named as his replacement for the rest of the remaining matches on Saturday.

"We know he's got a lot of pace which he will definitely bring and that's one thing we always talk about. You always have to have someone who is a spearhead quick and that's always been the Australian approach and we know he's got that firepower," Warner was quoted as saying by cricket Australia's official website.

"It's been a long time (since his last Test) and he's been working his backside off to get his body right for one and it was great to see him come back and play the Shield game the other day and bowl well. "We know with Patty as (Starc's) replacement we're going to have that firepower there if the selectors go that way," he added.

Warner said he would like to see Australian pacers continue to target Indians with the short ball.

"For us it's about putting our best team on the park and hopefully we can get (India's batsmen) jumping around. But at the moment on these wickets there doesn't seem like too many people are getting on the back (foot)," Warner said.

Cummins, who suffered from back injury for a long time, played his last Test match against South Africa in November 2011.

--IANS

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