AHMEDABAD: Pat Cummins could also be an uncommon captain, however on Sunday he performed a job described as “phenomenal” as he led Australia to their sixth World Cup triumph in a victory over India.
Cricket groups are sometimes reluctant to nominate quick bowlers corresponding to Cummins as their skipper as a result of of considerations the additional workload will distract them from taking wickets.
But Cummins, thrust into the captaincy simply days earlier than the beginning of the 2021/22 Ashes after Tim Paine’s shock resignation after a ‘sexting’ scandal, nonetheless led Australia to a 4-0 sequence win over England.
Then in June this yr, Cummins oversaw Australia’s 209-run thrashing of India within the World Test Championship ultimate at The Oval.
Cummins, 30, additionally doesn’t match the ‘macho’ picture of an Australia captain established by abrasive skippers corresponding to Ian Chappell, Allan Border and Steve Waugh, though the paceman was accused of plotting the downfall of the equally gritty former coach Justin Langer.
Following a defeat by India within the second Test in Delhi this yr, Border stated: “I’d be enjoying with a more durable edge… The Kiwis (New Zealand), they’re those that play the goodie two sneakers.”
Cummins’ membership of the ‘Cricket for Climate’ group, in the meantime, led to strategies he had influenced Cricket Australia to desert a sponsorship take care of vitality firm Alinta — an accusation each he and his bosses denied.
‘WOKE MEANS NOTHING’
He has been labelled “woke” by some critics.
“I don’t even know what ‘woke’ means,” Cummins told the Sydney Morning Herald in January. “It’s a label, it means nothing.”
But few opponents would name Cummins, an impressive bowler with 239 wickets in 55 Tests at 22.94 apiece and 141 in 88 one-day internationals at 28.66, a delicate contact.
His metal was evident when he refused to withdraw an attraction after Jonny Bairstow was controversially given out stumped throughout an Ashes Test at Lord’s in July, regardless of the England batsman considering the ball was useless.
Australia received that match and retained the Ashes in a sequence drawn 2-2.
Cummins is aware of about resilience given accidents meant he endured a six-yr await a second Test look after a debut as an 18-yr-previous.
And Cummins, a shining gentle following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa that price Steve Smith the captaincy, has now led his nation to a document-extending sixth World Cup title — regardless of defeats of their opening two matches.
“Pat Cummins was phenomenal, I feel he’s been phenomenal all event together with his choice making,” stated teammate Mitchell Starc on Sunday.
Cummins has additionally demonstrated calmness when required.
That was evident when, with Australia having collapsed to 91-7, he held up an finish as Glenn Maxwell’s spectacular double century sealed a outstanding three-wicket pool victory over Afghanistan in Mumbai.
He additionally then held his nerve with the bat in a tense semi-ultimate run-chase towards South Africa.
“We’ve needed to struggle for each win, however we’ve discovered a solution to win,” he stated.
Published in Dawn, November twentieth, 2023
