Two years into Pat Cummins’ Test captaincy, Australia have blasted England 4-0 in Ashes at home, won a first Test series in Pakistan in 24 years, become the World Test champions only last month and are now on the verge of securing another Ashes win, leading 2-1 after four Tests. This, having already retained the urn last week. This one, in England – in the Bazball era.
With less than 24 hours left in the fifth and final Test, the visiting skipper reiterated the fact that his side’s second visit at The Oval during their ongoing tour of England was a ‘big one’.
“If we win this one and you look back, it’s been an incredible tour over here really. We’ve played five games, we’ve won three and only lost one. It’s already a fantastic tour. But to go home, winning the urn will be phenomenal,” Cummins told reporters on Wednesday.
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“It’s a final thing to tick off the list of titles to win for a few of the guys, who again you never know if you’ll get another chance to do it. So, we’ve said the whole time, our aim is to come here and win the Ashes and that’s the opportunity ahead of us,” he added.
Cummins’ leadership however has been put to question following two close wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s, a defeat at Leeds, and a draw in Manchester that’s been termed as a close escape by most critics. The right-arm quick however, hasn’t paid any heed to it.
“I honestly haven’t read anything. A few things have come across my desk from the boys having a laugh. I’ve been in this job two years now, and you learn pretty quickly that you’ve got to have a thick skin,” Cummins said.
On captaincy, he further added, “I think it does have a shelf life. I won’t put a date on it, I’ve got to get there first. I feel like every Test match I learn quite a bit, you just get exposed to more things with each game. I’m loving working with this team and the staff. Enjoying it at the moment, we’ll see what the future holds. I feel like with each game I’m getting better and I think there’s a fair bit more left in me.”
A win or a draw in the final Test will see Australia claim their first Test series triumph in England since 2001. A defeat would ring the bells of the 2019 tour which also saw England win the fifth Ashes Test and level the series 2-2.
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