Australia captain Pat Cummins is basking in the glow of a particularly resplendent year for the nation’s cricket team – a period so replete with victories and trophies that it has set a new benchmark, even for a country with a storied history of cricketing success. Pat Cummins, at the relatively youthful age of 30, has played a central role in a string of triumphs including a World Test Championship win, retaining the Ashes in England, and securing a World Cup win in India, all within a remarkably brief six-month window.
Mitchell Starc, his teammate and fellow pacer, has voiced immense appreciation for Cummins’ leadership during this period. Visiting the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) with Cummins to showcase the recently claimed World Cup Trophy, Starc remarked, “I think he’s been phenomenal, the last two months have spoken to that. He’s certainly had his critics and people have their own opinions that it has to be done a certain way and Pat’s never been phased by that although I’m sure he’s at times felt it internally but he doesn’t portray that to the wider group.”
Cummins’ captaincy initially came under scrutiny, especially after Australia stumbled in the opening two games of the World Cup campaign in India. Nonetheless, the subsequent turnaround was as spectacular as it was definitive – nine consecutive victories propelled Australia to championship glory. The captain himself rose to the occasion, his bowling prowess crystallizing in the pivotal dismissal of Kusal Perera against Sri Lanka and the iconic wicket of Virat Kohli in the final.
Starc, discussing Cummins’ influence, said, “We have a lot of confidence out on the field with him running the show.” He alluded to their longstanding camaraderie, “Whilst I’m not the most receptive to chat at the top of my mark as I’m sure he’ll attest to, it’s all listened to and the fact the three [Josh Hazlewood] of us have grown up together it’s taken the right way.”
Despite the deluge of success, Cummins emphasized the need for a deep and robust squad to sustain long-term achievement. The Australian captain underlined the significance of teamwork which led to multiple World Cup successes across formats, “To win one World Cup is hugely successful and rewarding, for a few of us that have done it twice and a few of the guys to win two one-day World cups and a T20 World Cup and a couple of others to have won a Test one as well, it’s not lost on us and how grateful we are to have those opportunities but to have that success as a team, that’s not lost on our group.”
A daring move in the World Cup final saw Australia opting to bowl on a dry and used pitch in Ahmedabad – a decision against the grain considering conventional wisdom and Australia’s own history. Cummins knew the risks, but stood by the aggressive strategy, “It could be easy for me, and the coaching staff, to take the easy option. We kept doubling down on wanting to be aggressive, wanting to be brave, take some risks and fortunately they paid off.”
Additionally, David Warner, the seasoned opener, came under the spotlight having faced criticism prior to the World Cup. Coinciding with his impressive run in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Warner was instrumental in Australia’s success, ending the tournament as the team’s top run-scorer. Cummins praised Warner’s contributions and hopes for a distinguished close to his illustrious career.
Cummins’ encapsulation of the team’s recent endeavors paints a picture not only of victory but of resilience and calculated bravery – hallmarks of an exceptional captain who values the contributions of each team member in Australia’s golden era of cricketing dominance.