If any cricketer on planet Earth has to be happiest with 2023 , Pat Cummins certainly would be the front runner in the happiness he grasped in the single year 2023 thus making it indeed a Happy New Year for him. Celebration s seemed to have rung in earlier for Pat Cummins as in 2023 he won laurels as an Australian captain who bagged two elusive world titles ICC World Test Championship and ICC Cricket World Cup both vs India the second with a statement and grit to silence Indian support in their own backyard.
More glory came Cummins way as in the IPL Auction held at Coca Cola Arena later in December 19th at Dubai, Sunrisers Hyderabad(SRH) purchased him at a record 20.50 INR crore rupees ,a record set by the Australian in a 16 year old Cash rich league only to be broken by his compatriot Mitchell Starc.
In addition to all the achievements, Pat Cummins also captained Australia to a series win 2-0 vs Pakistan with one test remaining in their own conditions thus becoming an authorizing stamp as a best leader and performer where he in second test became the only second player after Allan Border to achieve a feat of grabbing 10 wickets in 2 innings alongside some valuable runs with the bat.
As Australia won the test match at MCG, Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez seemed in discomfort about the decision that took Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket and triggered Pakistan’s collapse in conquest of 317 runs which Pakistan eventually fell short by 79 runs to grant Pat Cummins and his team yet another series win vs them.
Victorious Captain Pat Cummins was elated after yet another series win and expressed the same in the post match press conference.
Pat Cummins gives a cheeky response to Mohammad Hafeez statement that Pakistan played better cricket
Australian captain Pat Cummins came up with a fitting response to Pakistan Team Director Mohammad Hafeez claiming themselves to be the better team despite losing the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 30-year-old said that he’s content with the tourists’ mindset as winning is all that matters for Australia.
During the post-match presser, Hafeez stated that Pakistan performed better across facets in the Test and that it was the fine margins that scripted Australia’s victory. He also lamented the inconsistent nature of umpiring and DRS during Pakistan’s run-chase.
In response, Cummins, who took 10 wickets in the match, said during the press conference (as quoted by Fox Sports):
“Ahhhh. Cool. They played well. I am glad we got the win. It doesn’t really matter, does it? It is the team who wins at the end,”
Mohammad Rizwan’s wicket during Pakistan’s pursuit of 317 was the turning point of the game. The Aussie captain bowled an outstanding delivery as the third umpire ruled that the ball had nicked Rizwan’s wristband and went through to Carey. The keeper-batter was not happy with that decision.
My rhythm felt really good- Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins underlined that it’s the best he has felt about his bowling in a while as everything seemed to come together. He also looked back at the year, terming it as a highly successful one for Australia :
“Personally, I think (I’m) really happy for a few reasons. Probably the one main reason is it is the best that I felt like I have bowled for a little while. My rhythm felt really good. I felt like I had good pace. I knew where my wrist was,”
“I could control the seam. I bowled some good bouncers. So I felt really happy with how I was bowling. And as a team, it was just a huge year in all formats. We had a lot of success and to top it off by winning a series at home, which we pride ourselves on doing, is pretty satisfying,” he concluded.
With Australia certainly having the party of lifetime with their on field performances in 2023 , It would be treat for the cricketing nations to see and plan against the Australians in their upcoming season of 2024 which begins with the final test of series vs Pakistan starting on 3rd January 2024 at Sydney.