Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Clarke were all great captains who led Australia to World Cup victories. Now, a new name has emerged – Pat Cummins.
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This young captain has steered the Australian cricket team to significant milestones, including success in the Ashes, World Test Championship, and the ODI World Cup. Cummins’ leadership has brought numerous achievements, making him a strong contender for one of the greatest captains in Australia’s cricket history. This blog will delve into the remarkable achievements under Pat Cummins’ captaincy.
About Pat Cummins
Patrick James Cummins, born on May 8, 1993, is a top Australian cricketer who leads the Australian team in Test and One Day International cricket. He is known for being one of the best fast bowlers in modern cricket, especially in Test matches, and can also bat in the lower order.
In January 2023, Cummins was ranked as the number one bowler globally, according to the ICC Men’s Test Bowling Rankings. He was part of the Australian teams that won the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and served as the captain for the victorious 2021–23 ICC World Test Championship and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Pat Cummins As A Captain
On November 26, 2021, Cummins became the 47th captain of the Australian Test cricket team after Tim Paine resigned. He made history as the first fast bowler to take on the full-time captain role for Australia. In his first test as captain during the 2021–22 Ashes series, he took seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, a first for an Australian seam bowling captain.
Despite missing the 2nd test due to COVID-19 exposure, Cummins was the leading wicket-taker in the Ashes series, securing 21 wickets in 4 matches. Under his leadership, Australia defeated England 4–0 in Ashes series.
Cummins has become a great cricket captain by performing well in different countries, formats, and conditions. He’s now in the company of Imran Khan and Kapil Dev, who also led their teams to World Cup victories as fast-bowling captains.
Cummins Won World Test Chamionship
With fireworks in the background, Pat Cummins and his team proudly received the ICC World Test Championship trophy after a tough final at The Oval on June 11, 2023. This win marked the end of a two-year journey for Australia.
In a fierce match against India, Australia scored 469 and 270/8d, while India managed 296 and 234. In the end, Australia won convincingly by a big margin of 209 runs. The Player of the Match award went to Travis Head from Australia, whose outstanding performance, especially his score of 163, played a crucial role in securing the championship for the Australian team.
Cummins As a Captain in ODI WorldCup 2023
In the 2023 World Cup in India, Pat Cummins led the Australian team. Despite being the least experienced captain in the tournament with only four ODI games under his belt before the World Cup, Cummins and the team faced a tough start, losing the first two league stage games and being at the bottom of the points table.
Cummins performed well individually, taking 15 wickets in 11 matches with an economy of 5.75 and scoring 128 runs in 8 innings with an average of 32. One notable achievement was his record partnership of 202 runs from 170 balls for the 9th wicket with Glenn Maxwell in a league match against Afghanistan.
On November 19, 2023, Cummins became the fifth Australian captain to lift the 50-over World Cup. In the final against India, he took two crucial wickets of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, conceding only 34 runs off his 10 overs. Cummins’ captaincy in the final was praised by many cricket fans and experts.
Become 2nd Highest Expensive Player of IPL History
Cummins entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2014, playing for Kolkata Knight Riders. He returned to the same team for IPL 2015 but didn’t participate in the 2016 edition. In IPL 2017, he played for Delhi Daredevils but was absent in 2018 and 2019.
In the IPL 2020 auction, Cummins was reacquired by the Knight Riders for ₹15.5 crore (A$2.8 million), making him one of the expensive overseas players in IPL auction history. In the IPL 2024 auction, he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹20.5 crore (A$3.7 million), becoming the second-most expensive player in IPL history, following his teammate Mitchell Starc in the same auction.
Year 2023 for Pat Cummins
2023 was a golden year for Pat Cummins as a captain
— Hardik 🇮🇳 (@Whyratkugagli) December 31, 2023
– Won World Cup.
– Won World Test Championship.
– Fetched 2nd highest ever deal of 20.25 CR in IPL auction. pic.twitter.com/RDJpcSthPQ
This year, Cummins faced both good and tough times. He sadly lost his mother in 2023 and also broke his wrist during the Ashes series. Additionally, some former Australian players criticized his captaincy.
Cummins mentioned that all Australian cricketers had a challenging year, spending more time away from home than usual. Despite the hardships, he expressed joy in celebrating Christmas at home, highlighting the sacrifices made by the players throughout the year.
What Will be The Target Of Cummins In 2024?
In November 2021, the ICC revealed that the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup is set for the West Indies and the United States. Pat Cummins and his team aim to achieve another milestone by winning the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024. They will be striving to secure success in this prestigious tournament.
Also Read: ICC TOURNAMENT THAT INDIA LOST AFTER 2013 EXPLAINED
