Cummins ready or not: Pat won't be overawed by little master's wizardry

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''To get a game, even here in Australia, would be unbelievable. To be versing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid - it's going to be a massive challenge. More... Cummins ready or not: Pat won't be overawed by little master's wizardry Andrew Wu November 25, 2011 Testing material … Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar will keep Pat Cummins on his toes this summer. Photo: Getty Images PAT CUMMINS was a mere twinkle in his father's eye when Sachin Tendulkar made his Test debut but, in a promoter's dream, the men representing the past and future of the game are set to clash later this year. Tendulkar made his Test debut three-and-a-half years before Cummins was born, and the duel between Australia's newest sporting sensation and the biggest name in international cricket will, barring injuries to either party, be a massive drawcard for this summer's marquee series against India. The Penrith product was aged just seven when Steve Waugh's team lost that epic series to India in 2001 but he was in the stands for the former Australian captain's final Test three years later. On that occasion, Tendulkar carved a breathless 241 but in January he could be on the other side of the fence forming memories for tomorrow's budding stars. ''He's one of the greats of all time, I've grown up watching him,'' Cummins said yesterday of Tendulkar. ''For someone who is a bit of a pocket rocket, he's not too tall, even against the fastest bowlers he seems to stand up and lift another gear. ''To get a game, even here in Australia, would be unbelievable. To be versing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid - it's going to be a massive challenge. He's someone hopefully all the bowlers don't get too overawed versing him and I guess you've got to still imagine him like any other batsmen.'' The problem, however, is Tendulkar is not like any other player. That the incomparable Don Bradman once said the Indian maestro reminded him more of himself than any other batsman is indication of the lofty standing Tendulkar holds in the game. Cummins said he would not ''waste time'' thinking about how to bowl to Tendulkar ''because he's too good everywhere''. ''It's more imagining the moment of playing people like him, it'd be a massive thrill.'' Not that Cummins is afraid of taking on the very best. On debut last week in Johannesburg, the seemingly nerveless speedster claimed the wicket of another of the game's modern greats Jacques Kallis, who sits fourth on the all-time Test run-scorers' list - behind only Tendulkar, Dravid and Ricky Ponting. ''Sachin Tendulkar has got a massive following in India and is a rock star over there,'' Cummins said. ''Someone like him, all the fame, it'd be on a whole new different level versing him.'' But Cummins is no stranger to climbing the ladder multiple rungs at a time. Twelve months ago, the teenager was adjusting to his debut season of first grade before a stunning tournament in last summer's Big Bash catapulted him to stardom. ''Even the last year, to get the NSW game when I was kind of looking back at grade cricket, I thought 'gee, I've come up here pretty quickly, maybe too quickly', but to come up here it's a whole new different level,'' Cummins said. ''To get here it's just unbelievable, it's happened so quickly it's all a bit of a blur.'' Another major decision will come next year when the cashed-up franchises of the Indian Premier League come knocking, trying to entice Cummins with huge six-figure sums after his starring role in NSW's Champions League campaign two months ago. ''I haven't really thought about it at the moment, it's still a fair while away,'' Cummins said. ''You definitely don't want it to impact on any cricket back here. It will be a big compliment if they did [show interest] but I haven't heard anything about it yet so we'll see what happens.'' Although he is likely to be on Test duty during the Big Bash, Cummins was unveiled yesterday by the Sydney Sixers in a promotion to mark the start of Cricket Australia's revamped Twenty20 tournament. ''Last year, Twenty20 gave me the opportunity to play for NSW and that opened up the other forms as well,'' Cummins said. ''It's really exciting to be part of it again. I love playing Twenty20 cricket. It's going to be a great atmosphere and bring a lot of media attention and public attention to domestic cricket.''

[vamos_rafa]

Cummins waits for duel with 'Rockstar' Sachin Tendulkar

MELBOURNE: He considers Sachin Tendulkar the "Rockstar" of Indian cricket and Australia's new-found pace sensation Pat Cummins says he can't wait for a possible duel with the batting icon in the Test series next month. The 18-year-old, who made a sensational Test debut by taking seven wickets to set up a thrilling series-levelling win for Australia against South Africa earlier this month, is now looking forward to bowl against Tendulkar. The 38-year-old Tendulkar made his Test debut three-and-a-half years before Cummins was even born. "He's one of the greats of all time, I've grown up watching him," Cummins told 'The Sydney Morning Herald'. "For someone who is a bit of a pocket rocket, he's not too tall, even against the fastest bowlers he seems to stand up and lift another gear. "To get a game, even here in Australia, would be unbelievable. To be versing the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid - it's going to be a massive challenge. He's someone hopefully all the bowlers don't get too overawed versing him and I guess you've got to still imagine him like any other batsmen," he added. India and Australia will square off in a much-anticipated Test series starting December 26. Cummins said he would not "waste time" chalking out a bowling strategy for Tendulkar as the Indian is "too good everywhere". "It's more imagining the moment of playing people like him, it'd be a massive thrill," Cummins said. "Sachin Tendulkar has got a massive following in India and is a rockstar over there. Someone like him, all the fame, it'd be on a whole new different level versing him," he added. Cummins might be hot property at the next players' auction for the cash-rich Indian Premier League but the youngster does not want to think too far ahead. "I haven't really thought about it at the moment, it's still a fair while away," Cummins said. "You definitely don't want it to impact on any cricket back here. It will be a big compliment if they did (show interest) but I haven't heard anything about it yet so we'll see what happens," he added.

[Cricket Tragic]

I thought Jaddu was the Rockstar. :hmmmm2:

[Sidhoni]

That contest should be very interesting indeed :woot:

[flamy]

Everybody wants a piece

[amiret]

If it is a half-decent wkt for Test cricket , Sachin does not stand a chance. He is going to feel like Larry Holmes when he took on Tyson at the age of 39. It will be a repeat of the England tour.

[Jersey #10]

Sachin has a history of gifting his wickets to newbies so i guess cummins could have a piece

[panesarv]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

[vamos_rafa]

If it is a half-decent wkt for Test cricket ' date= Sachin does not stand a chance. He is going to feel like Larry Holmes when he took on Tyson at the age of 39. It will be a repeat of the England tour.

Really?

[SachDan]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

Like the last tour to South Africa or the one to Australia few years back?

[vamos_rafa]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

haan kya??

[Jersey #10]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

I agree. "I saw his legs shaking in the side screen" - Afridi

[Karan114]

I agree. "I saw his legs shaking in the side screen" - Afridi

:two_thumbs_up: Midget is the biggest flat track bully of time, amiret and panesarv are correct that he doesn't stand a chance of scoring a run in Australia!

[Hell Raiser]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

Thanks for telling me that Dale Steyn and Morkel are not quality bowlers.

[Jersey #10]

Thanks for telling me that Dale Steyn and Morkel are not quality bowlers.

add McGrath, Warne, Akram, Murali etc in the list too. The only good bowlers are Amir and Asif.

[Laaloo]

Sachin won't do anything against quality bowling

:fishing:

Like the last tour to South Africa or the one to Australia few years back?

haan kya??

I agree. "I saw his legs shaking in the side screen" - Afridi

Thanks for telling me that Dale Steyn and Morkel are not quality bowlers.

:headshake:

[Sachin=GOD]

If it is a half-decent wkt for Test cricket ' date= Sachin does not stand a chance. He is going to feel like Larry Holmes when he took on Tyson at the age of 39. It will be a repeat of the England tour.

yeah.................just see India's tour of South Africa earlier this year or any of India's tours to Australia in the last 2 decades and you'll see how he has struggled.

[ravishingravi]

Sachin is past it. The show by the Indian line up in England confirmed that the best years maybe difficult to come back to now. I think he will do better in Australia though. But this young kid will make Indian batsmen dance if they prepare typically Australian wickets.

[SachDan]

Sachin is past it. The show by the Indian line up in England confirmed that the best years maybe difficult to come back to now. I think he will do better in Australia though. But this young kid will make Indian batsmen dance if they prepare typically Australian wickets.

Here comes Mr.sensitive :( His last innings in test cricket was a fluent 94 yet you feel he's not to be counted? Wonder what your hero @greatbong has to say about Sachin and our "pseudo no.1 ranking" ? :giggle:

[ravishingravi]

Here comes Mr.sensitive :( His last innings in test cricket was a fluent 94 yet you feel he's not to be counted? Wonder what your hero @greatbong has to say about Sachin and our "pseudo no.1 ranking" ? :giggle:

Ah!! yes, your reactions shows who is staying true to that adjective. No I do not take the innings against hapless windies on docile pitch seriously. Then again I am not a Sachin fanatic fan holding on to every cover drive against Sammy to prove his greatness. I love the guy just care for Indian team more.