Wellington, Oct 21 (ANI): Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson has said that the team needs to make the most of teenager Pat Cummins' rare talent and should play the 18-year-old as much as possible.
Back issues have already hampered Cummins' brief career, and there are concerns over him being overworked if he's elevated into the Test team for the two-match series in South Africa.
Johnson believes the priceless commodity of Cummins' speed makes him worth the risk, Stuff.co.nz reports.
Johnson struggled with extreme cases of stress fractures in his back when he was a young bowler, and he still managed to become only the fourth left-arm quick in Australian cricket to take 100 wickets.
"It's a fair bit but I think you've got to use a guy like that when you can. He can bowl up to 150km/h, you've got to make the most of it I think," said Johnson.
"I went through back fractures, stress fractures at that age. I'm not saying he's going to go through that, he might not get injuries. Glenn McGrath was one of those guys who didn't get back stress fractures.
"It's possible he'd get through it and if he does then good on him and it's good for us, good for our future in Australian cricket. I'm looking forward to seeing him bowl ... and play more cricket for sure," he added.
Johnson said he was impressed with what he saw from Cummins in his debut ODI match in Centurion on Wednesday.
Cummins and Johnson both took three wickets each in Australia's 93-run win under the Duckworth Lewis system. (ANI)
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