JOIN USThe Australian cricketing world was falling apart. The results hardly did justice to their part glory. Amid the ruins, only one player stood firm and performed like a hard-nosed Australian – Pat Cummins.
Last year, first time in front of their home crowd after the embarrassing ball-tampering episode, Australia were beaten 2-1 by India in the Test series. In Australia’s otherwise disappointing show, Cummins was the one saving grace. The right-arm pacer was his team’s highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps. He displayed his undaunted spirit at the MCG, slamming 63 and bagging a six-wicket haul in the third Test.
Cummins didn’t put a foot wrong in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka recently, claiming 14 wickets to rise to No. 1 in Test rankings. “I am really happy with how my game is going. So many things have fallen into place. Obviously, there is a bit of luck as well. I am playing consistent cricket and I am able to concentrate well on my skill. I haven’t played too much white ball cricket and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have got a lot to learn, like taking wickets in white ball cricket and bowling in the death overs,” Cummins told reporters on the eve of Australia’s second T20I against India here.
The 25-year-old isn’t perturbed by unhelpful conditions or intimidating targets. His unceasing involvement in the game often helps him succeed in crunch moments. Even in the first T20I at Visakhapatnam, a calm Cummins, in the company of Jhye Richardson, saw Australia through on the last ball. “When you play professional sport, you want to be in the moment where you can win a game. Fortunately, so far a few results have come off for me. Just try and swing the bat, bowl that good ball, I think you hear a lot of the players saying this and I'm no different. Off the field, you're terribly nervous watching people go about their business, but once you're out in the field, you know you're in control, you've done it heaps of times before,” he explains.
In the best phase of his career, Cummins said he aimed to be a complete player. “While preparing for a game, as a bowler, you cannot just prepare for bowling. You have got to prepare for everything. That’s something that’s hit home in the last couple of years. I may not have all the big shots like a lot of batsmen but I have really enjoyed it. You have to make sure you are alright in the field, do all your catching, fielding and batting to make sure you are giving 100 per cent,” Cummins offered.