Pat Cummins replaces Xavier Doherty as Australia opt for all-pace attack

Pat Cummins comes back into the playing XI for Australia’s final match in Group A

Hobart, March 13 (IANS) Australia are set to unleash an all-out pace assault against Scotland in their final Cricket World Cup Pool A clash here on Saturday with young tearaway quick Pat Cummins to replace spinner Xavier Doherty.

Cummins played just one match in the tournament against New Zealand in Auckland before being sidelined by a rib injury.

Cummins has been chosen ahead of fellow pacer Josh Hazlewood to accompany the left-arm duo of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson for the day-night match at the Blundstone Arena.

A win here will ensure Australia avoid India and South Africa in the quarter-finals.

Skipper Michael Clarke did not reveal why the selectors had chosen Cummins ahead of Hazlewood, but expressed his confidence in both.

"They've both performed really well with their opportunities, both bowling as well as I've seen," Clarke was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald on Friday, after Australia's optional pre-match training session.

"Both offer the team different strengths," the captain claimed.

Clarke is likely to tweak the batting order against Scotland to afford all his batsmen sufficient match practice before entering the knock-out stages of the tournament.

"I am not sure yet about the order. I will have a think about it overnight. Obviously I need another hit," he said.

"I think Shane Watson needs another hit, and James Faulkner hasn't really had a bat in this tournament either. There are probably three players that certainly need a bat," the 33-year-old said.