Aussie cricketer Darren Berry claims Pat Cummins will resign as skipper after the Ashes as he blasts tourists’ ‘unwatchable’ play in the fourth Test

Former Victorian cricket captain turned sports commentator Darren Berry has set the twitter world abuzz with an extraordinary claim that Aussie Test skipper Pat Cummins is about to resign from the role.

His tweet came as he made a number of scathing attacks on the tourists’ bowling attack, which struggled badly as England smashed their way to a first innings total of 592 at Old Trafford on the third day of the fourth Test. 

Writing a tweet to Aussie fast bowling legend Merv Hughes, Berry said: ‘Here is my take Pat Cummins is a magnificent cricketer no doubt but remember this msg. He will resign from the captaincy after the Ashes series. The Q is do they go back to Smudge or move forward to Head or Marsh? Ashton Turner T20.’

Prominent broadcaster Jim Wilson responded: ‘Reckon it’s time to move forward. Head for mine and let Cummins get back to what he does best. Tactically this has been a horror show for us, full credit to England and we don’t deserve to be saved by Mother Nature!’

Under fire Pat Cummins has been attacked by many on social media following his tactical errors in the fourth Test, with Victorian captain Darren Berry sensationally claiming the Aussie skipper will resign

Berry (pictured) has set tongues wagging on social media with his blistering attack on the captain and the disastrous play from Australia at Old Trafford

Berry had earlier tweeted: ‘This is unwatchable. Goodnight to all lovers of the game of our great game of cricket. This is absolutely insane to anyone watching this s**t with half a clue about the game. Enough is enough now keep banging ’em in lads WTF.’

At stumps, the Aussies were floundering 4-113, trailing the home side by 162 runs and praying that forecast rain will save them from a humbling defeat.

Debate raged over which member of the Aussie side would make a better captain should Berry’s prediction come to pass.

Former skipper Steve Smith had fans and detractors, while Travis Head and Alex Carey also loomed as plausible candidates.

One fan wrote: ‘Cummins should concentrate on his bowling and leave the captaincy duties to someone else. His field placings and this short pitched rubbish stinks of someone that hasn’t got a clue.’

Another added: ‘Are they on the take from the ECB [English Cricket Board] to make sure it goes to a fifth Test decider? Hard to think how professional players could come up with such inept strategies.’

Merv Hughes, who is a big tweeter, responded to Berry with a curt, ‘I thought you were going to bed.’

Berry’s tweet kicked off speculation from cricket fans about which member of the Aussie team could take over from Cummins

Aussie great and fellow fast bowler Merv Hughes engaged with Berry on Twitter as they both watched the tourists cop a hammering in Manchester

Berry returned serve for Merv, ‘I am in bed watching this but I can’t sleep.’

Berry’s attack follows primarily the tactics employed by the Aussie bowlers, then the batters, but also the field placements.

Many fans are claiming Cummins has no plan to combat England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ style of play.

One wrote: ‘Surely the coach has some influence in this garbage too? I’ve never seen an Aussie team play like this, even when [Michael] Clarke was captain and he had no cattle, he had a crack.’

‘The bowling and fielding tactics have been absolutely s**t. Hope the rain comes but they don’t deserve to be saved by it,’ another tweeted.

One frustrated fan had a problem with Berry’s argument: ‘It’s funny seeing former cricketers say this. But I swear for as long as I’ve watched including Darren Berry or Ricky Ponting era, that pace bowlers and captains persist with short bowling to tail Enders even when not working. It’s like they all forgot they did same thing.’ 

Play on the fifth day resumes at 8pm AEST.