According to Australian captain Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins won't be fazed by playing on cricket's grandest stage in Todays' one-day series opener against England.The teenage paceman is set to play his first international match on English soil in the Lord's clash.Australia have traditionally had a strong affinity with the home of cricket, the scene of the nation's 1999 World Cup triumph as well as 75-year unbeaten run in Tests.
However Mitchell Johnson's meltdown and Brad Haddin's tardy glove work during the 2009 Ashes loss at the venue showed the occasion can sometimes get the better of first-timers.
The vagaries of the ground's famous slope have caused many a fast bowler to struggle for rhythm in opening spells.
Clarke said Cummins showed in his performances in South Africa late last year that he could handle the big occasion.
"He will be out to enjoy himself and do as well as he possibly can," Clarke said.
New South Welshman Cummins made his debut for Australia at just 18 in a Twenty20 match against South Africa in Cape Town.
He then impressed in the 2-1 one-day series win before producing a man-of-the-match performance on Test debut in Johannesburg.
After hitting the winning runs at the Wanderers, Cummins succumbed to a foot injury and has only just returned to national colours.
His lethal combination of pace and swing caused all sorts of trouble for batsmen in warm-up matches against Ireland and Essex.
It was his 3-26 against the county side in Chelmsford on Tuesday that looks to have confirmed his spot in Friday's match.
England won the past six one-day series on home soil but only enjoyed one victory against Australia in their past nine encounters.
England can replace Australia as the world No.1 one-day side with a 5-0 series whitewash.
Not that England captain Alastair Cook is showing such optimism.
"Let's not count our chickens just yet, before they hatch," he said.
"That's totally irrelevant for us.You go into any series just trying to win the series."
"That's a tough enough challenge."
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