50 SPORT SATURDAY JANUARY 18 2020 Cummins favourite Salt gives Heat curry for award SAM LANDSBERGER GOLDEN boy Patrick Cum- mins has been backed by team- mates to create history and become the first bowler to win in dominant victory back-to-back Allan Border medals. Cummins, 26, was this week named the ICC Test Player of the Year with his 59 wickets in 2019 a staggering 14 more than Nathan Lyon at No.2. Cummins (12 Tests) enjoyed the most prolific calendar year by an Australian fast bowler since Mitchell Johnson grab- bed 63 wickets from 13 Tests in 2009. A News Corp survey of some of Australia’s top cricket- ers revealed that Cummins was the popular choice to join Ricky Ponting (2004, 2006-07, 2009), Michael Clarke (2005, 2009, 2012-13), Shane Watson (2010-11), David Warner (2016-17) and Steve Smith (2015, 2018) as a multiple AB Medal recipient. Cummins would also be- come the youngest player to win the prestigious award twice. “Hard to go past Pat Cum- mins,” Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch said. “Playing most games in all formats … I can’t see anyone pipping Patty Cummins. Now I’ve thought about it more, I think that he might win it by the length of the straight, and it’ll be a fight for who’s second and third.” Voting closed after this month’s Sydney Test, with the current ODI series in India – which includes Warner’s fifth century of the summer – counting towards next year’s medal. While Mitchell Starc played Territory product Jake Weatherald impressed, while Phil Salt (inset) was on fire in the Strikers’ big win over Brisbane Heat Pictures: AAP/GETTY just one Ashes Test, he started the medal cycle with a 10-wick- STEVE BARRETT cluding five sixes) and Jake the table and received a huge (0-47) for a four and two post double figures in a reck- et haul against Sri Lanka, fin- Weatherald (33 not out) net run-rate boost. more sixes to give his side an less batting display. ished it with 29 wickets in five PHIL Salt’s powerhouse hit- made extremely light work of Weatherald was the early early victory. Max Bryant (1) and AB de home Tests and, in the middle, ting display has helped the the chase, reeling in the mod- aggressor before Salt picked Earlier, legspinner Liam Villiers (2) holed out early be- he dominated the World Cup Adelaide Strikers catapult to est target with 55 deliveries up the pace. Welshman Salt O’Connor (career-best 3-30) fore Lynn fell to a brilliant with 27 scalps. third spot on the BBL ladder remaining yesterday. peppered Josh Lalor for 19 in and seamers Michael Neser running, diving catch by Ra- Cummins went wicketless after smashing Brisbane Heat On the back of the Heat’s one over – including two (2-14) and Wes Agar (2-15) shid Khan off O’Connor. in just three out of 23 Test in- by 10 wickets at Adelaide landslide seven-wicket win at sixes – to raise an impressive did the damage with the ball Lynn’s exit sparked an 8-53 nings and was the leading Oval. the Gabba, it was an ultra-im- half-century off 34 balls be- to skittle the Heat in 17 overs. collapse with the Heat’s last wicket-taker at the Ashes (29). After bundling the Heat pressive bounceback from fore finishing with a flourish. Matt Renshaw (43) and five wickets falling for 11 runs, The awards ceremony will for 100, Strikers openers Salt the Strikers, who leapfrogged He belted under-siege spin- captain Chris Lynn (26) were giving the Strikers the perfect be held at Melbourne’s Crown (67 not out off 38 balls, in- past Brisbane and Perth on ner Mujeeb Ur Rahman the only Brisbane batsmen to platform for Salt’s assault. Palladium on February 10. Zampa wants twin-spin attack to turn T20 World Cup in Aussies’ favour ADAM Zampa says twin spin Australia opted for Nathan not much had changed with “With playing two spinners, not being the only spinner in is the way for Australia to win Lyon, because of his stellar ac- Agar. “It’s very similar to bowl- one of us is going to have to the team. I love playing with this year’s T20 World Cup, curacy and control, as the sole ing with Lyon,” the wrist-spin- bowl quite deep in the innings, two wrist spinners and I love confident he and Ashton Agar spinner at the business end of ner said. “The role I bowled so one of us is going to have to playing with Sandeep (Lam- can lift the trophy together at last year’s World Cup in En- with Gaz (Lyon) last year was play that (holding) role.” ichhane) for the Stars.” the MCG in November. gland. he very much played a holding Since Zampa’s ODI debut While Australia has plenty The pair have joined forces But the defensive tweaker role. I think the ways are re- in 2016, only Mitchell Starc (85 of batsmen who can offer spin with the white ball this sum- was left at home for the series versing a little bit with Ashton, wickets) has struck more for overs, including D’Arcy Short, mer with David Warner de- in India and, while Zampa and in terms of the fact as you saw Australia than the leggie’s 66 Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton claring they both nailed Lyon only played in the same the other day he bowled later scalps. Turner and even Steve Smith, perfect lengths in Australia’s team in the build-up to the in the innings, whereas last “I love bowling with two coach Justin Langer prefers Legspinner Adam Zampa T20 whitewash of Sri Lanka. ODI tournament, Zampa said year that was me. spinners,” Zampa said. “I enjoy only using specialist bowlers. NTNE01Z01MA - V1.