January 6, 2025

Cummins Attributes Five-Test Series Triumph to ‘Strong Processes’ and Staying Steady Amid Challenges

“As a captain, do you feel you have completed cricket now?” was one of the questions posed to Australian skipper Pat Cummins in the post-match press conference. He jokingly responded with, “Unfortunately, I’ve got to keep playing!”

Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade, defeating India 3-1 in the five-match Test series, which concluded on Sunday in Sydney. Reflecting on the historic series triumph, skipper Pat Cummins expressed his delight at lifting the prestigious trophy. Adding to the achievement, he highlighted that securing a spot in the World Test Championship final in June was the perfect icing on the cake.

“It’s a huge win. In the context of this series, it’s as big a series as you’re going to play at home. It felt like it was kind of see-sawing throughout the whole series. So, to finish it 3-1, to hold the trophy, is an amazing feeling. I think the extra layer is now securing a spot in the World Test Championship final, which was always a huge goal for us in this cycle. And we’ve done it, so, yeah, really satisfied.”

Despite Australia clinching the series 3-1, the journey was far from smooth. They were handed a comprehensive 295-run defeat in the first Test in Perth. Cummins admitted that while the team had prepared thoroughly for the series opener, they simply weren’t at their best during that match. He emphasized the importance of team unity, describing the players and support staff as a close-knit family. This sense of togetherness allowed the team to be honest with each other after the Perth loss, and it played a crucial role in their resilience as they bounced back to win the series.

“I was really happy with our preparation going into the first Test. I think, you know, if you don’t play well, that gets questioned. But if you do play well, people just forget about it. I think, you know, team unity-we were always, for the most part, really good. This summer we’ve been awesome. You know, the group’s been really tight and very honest even when we weren’t at our best.”

This series victory marked the first time since the 1997 Ashes that Australia had come back from a 1-0 deficit to win a series. After their heavy defeat in Perth, the hosts responded with victories in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. However, Cummins acknowledged that the road to triumph wasn’t easy. The draw at the Gabba and the Melbourne Test, which went down to the wire, kept the pressure on the team, making the series comeback all the more challenging. Despite the setbacks, the team’s resilience shone through, ultimately securing the series win.

“I think, you know, it being a five-Test match series, it helps,” Cummins said. “But you saw with the Gabby [Gabba], you do start thinking, you know, anything can happen. And then MCG goes down to the last hour. You do feel like you might play really well and not have a series win to show for it. I think when you start a series behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly and unfairly.

“But, again, I think it shows the strength of the group to kind of stay strong, know that we weren’t our best, but we can be better, not get caught up in a lot of the external noise and clutter, and just focus on what makes us good players and a good team. Yeah, really, that’s one of the most rewarding parts of this series win.”

As captain, Cummins has now won four major trophies: the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Ashes, the Trans-Tasman Trophy, and the World Test Championship mace. These achievements mark a milestone for Australia, as it is the first time they have secured all four titles since 2008. Reflecting on his leadership journey, Cummins highlighted the invaluable lessons learned from previous significant series he has led or been a part of, which have played a key role in his growth as a leader. One of the most critical aspects of his captaincy, he noted, is managing the workload of the fast bowlers, particularly in long, grueling series, to ensure they remain fresh and effective throughout.

“I think, you know, you definitely draw experience from past Ashes series or any big series. Probably one of the most important things is managing your resources throughout the five-Test match series. So, that’s managing your bowlers’ workload, but also your energy.

“You know, making sure you’re not kind of riding the waves too much and have a really strong process and try to stick to that for the five Test matches. I think, you know, over the course of the series, you get to look at our opposition. So, maybe plans change a little bit [during the tour]. You get a bit of a feel of kind of the tempo, and you try and maybe tweak that. Yeah, I’d say they’re probably the things I think about most over the course of a five-match series.”

Beau Webster replaced Mitchell Marsh for the final Test, and he quickly made an impact, marking his debut with a solid 50 and playing a crucial role in hitting the winning runs in the chase of 162. On top of his batting contribution, Webster bowled 17 overs in the match, showcasing his all-round capabilities. Cummins praised Webster’s performance, considering him a close second to Scott Boland for Player of the Match. He also expressed his excitement about the potential future line-up of both Webster and Cameron Green, envisioning a formidable combination in Australia’s middle order and bowling attack.

“You know, I think he’s one of those quintessential all-rounders where you feel like they’re going to contribute in every facet of the game,” Cummins said of the two-metre man. “And he proved that, you know, this Test match, really important overs. Thought he bowled beautifully, some great catches, and two really important knocks. So it just feels like he always is involved with the game. I think he was right beside Scottie [Boland] as Player of the Match.

“You know, when you kind of build the package together [the XI with Green and Webster], it’s, yeah, you think if they’re in the best kind of six batters, but also they can contribute a little bit with the ball. They’re both amazing kind of gully, second, third slip fielders as well. So, yeah, just because he’s an all-rounder doesn’t mean that you can’t have two of them,” Cummins concluded.

Additionally, consider: Bumrah Regrets Missing Out on Bowling on the ‘Spiciest Wicket of the Series’