Pat Cummins responds to Darren Lehmann’s comments on chairman of selectors George Bailey ‘too close to the team’ | Cricket News

Apart from Travis Head and Steven Smith (until the Brisbane Test), the rest of the Australian batting order has struggled to contribute with a substantial score of sorts in recent times. While a few critics and former players have opined that the personnel in the batting order needs to be changed, there have been no such signs from the Australian management. Former Australian coach cum player Darren Lehmann said the chairman of selectors George Bailey is “too close to the team,” to take the tough calls
However, reacting to Lehmann’s comments Pat Cummins responded saying “I don’t know how that could be true,” after the draw at Gabba. “Of course, the most important thing is you do stay objective, and I think the selection panel is amazing at that. They’ve made some bold calls over the last couple of years in all formats, probably bolder than I’d seen other selectors make over the previous years, so they’ve never shied away from a tough decision.”
“What George brings to the role is amazing, and I think you’d hear that from the guys in the side, but you’d also hear it from state guys and everyone outside it as well,” Cummins added.
Bailey on a few occasions during the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy was seen in the dugout alongside the players. “Now, you can’t do that sometimes if you’re too close because you actually get too emotional and you care about the players. As a selector, I cared about the players, as a coach you do, but sometimes you actually get too close and you forget about what’s out there.” Lehman would observe and say on ABC Sports.
The likes of Usman Khawaja who is 38 years is averaging 12.60 in the ongoing series and has faced severe troubles against Jasprit Bumrah. “Are players playing too long? Hory shows in the last little bit, maybe they have been. Selectors have to be a little bit stronger. Or selectors aren’t strong enough to stop players from playing,” Lehman said.

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