The authoritative Wisden Almanack named Pat Cummins as his leading cricketer on the international stage.
The Aussie captain led his team to World Cup glory in India, among other things, while Australia also retained the Ashes trophy in the Test series against England.
Oh yes, under his watch Australia are also the World Test champion team after India were settled at the Oval.
Funnily enough, some of his own country’s former players did not always have much eye for his captaincy.
The fast bowler had to endure heavy criticism about his handling of the whole Justin Langer saga and especially Mitchell Johnson did not make his heart a murder pit.
“Yes, Cummins bowled well in the last Ashes Series, but he bowled badly in his first Test as captain. He had many opportunities to support an extension of Langer’s contract – it was just a lame performance by the national captain if you ask me,” said Johnson.
However, Cummins came up with a pitch of his own and said, among other things, that the time was ripe for a coaching change.
“Just like all the former players – who are now making such a fuss – I also have the interests of my friends at heart. It is necessary to get another coach at the helm of affairs,” said Cummins.
The 30-year-old fast bowler is also at the helm of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and he currently ranks among the top five bowlers in this popular hit-and-run series.
- Cummins’ career stats:
Test Cricket: 269 wickets and 1,295 runs in 62 Tests
ODI Cricket: 141 wickets and 492 runs in 88 matches
T20 Cricket: 57 wickets and 144 runs in 52 matches
World Test Championship ✅
ODI World Cup ✅
Retained the Ashes ✅Pat Cummins has been named as Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World (Men) ????#WisdenAwards pic.twitter.com/CJZCm8DuzQ
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 15, 2024
