Cricket

Australia's Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, is relishing his role after being relieved of the T20 captaincy burden. He expressed confidence in his team's preparedness for the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, stating that they have "ticked off everything" they could have so far.In their opening Super 8 match, Cummins claimed a hattrick and leg-spinner Adam Zampa bowled economically to restrict Bangladesh to 140/8. In response, veteran opener David Warner led the chase with his second fifty of the tournament, guiding Australia to a 28-run victory via the DLS method.Cummins praised the team's overall performance, saying, "It was a fairly polished performance, which is kind of what you want in Super Eights." He emphasized the team's versatility and adaptability, noting that they have used 12 or 13 players so far and everyone has had a chance to contribute.He also highlighted the longevity and impact of Mitchell Starc, who became the highest wicket-taker in ODI and T20 World Cups combined. "He's just a class bowler who takes lots of wickets and has played for a while," Cummins said.Regarding Warner's impending retirement from international cricket, Cummins praised his insatiable appetite for runs in big tournaments. "He looks in great form and continues to play with that freedom, which is great," Cummins said.

Pat Cummins' Hat-Trick Powers Australia to Victory Over Bangladesh in T20 World Cup Super EightAustralian fast bowler Pat Cummins etched his name into the history books of the T20 World Cup with a stunning hat-trick against Bangladesh in the Super Eight match in Antigua. Cummins' feat marked the first hat-trick of the 2024 tournament and the seventh in the event's history.After a quiet first spell, Cummins turned the tide in the 18th over, dismissing Mahmadullah with an inside edge that rattled his stumps. The next delivery saw Mahedi Hasan attempt an uppercut but only managed to hole out to Adam Zampa at short third.Cummins completed his hat-trick in the final over, deceiving Towhid Hridoy with a slower delivery that the batter mistimed to short-fine leg. Hridoy's dismissal for 40 off 28 balls left Bangladesh reeling at 140 for 8.Cummins' hat-trick was the second by an Australian in T20 World Cups, following Brett Lee's achievement in 2007. The other bowlers to have completed hat-tricks in the tournament are Curtis Campher, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kagiso Rabada, Karthik Meiyappan, and Josh Little.Mahmudullah's dismissal marked the sixth time he has been a victim in a hat-trick in international cricket, a testament to the rarity and significance of Cummins' feat.Cummins' three wickets, along with Adam Zampa's 2 for 24, played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to a modest total. Australia's bowlers kept the Bangladeshi batters in check throughout the innings, with only Hridoy and Afif Hossain (33 off 26) managing to cross the 30-run mark.Australia's victory over Bangladesh puts them in a strong position to qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Cummins' hat-trick will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament and a testament to his exceptional bowling skills.

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting recently presented the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy to Pat Cummins, the current Test and ODI captain of Australia, in recognition of his exceptional achievements as the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year 2023.Cummins enjoyed a remarkable 2023, leading Australia to victory in both the ODI World Cup and the World Test Championship. He also retained the Ashes urn with a drawn series in England.In addition to his captaincy success, Cummins was also a standout performer on the field. He finished as the sixth-highest wicket-taker across all formats in 2023, and was second only to teammate Nathan Lyon in the wicket-takers list in Tests. Cummins also made valuable contributions with the bat, including a crucial knock in the Edgbaston Test and useful cameos in the World Cup against Afghanistan and South Africa.Ponting praised Cummins' achievements, saying, "It gives me great pleasure to present the ICC Men's International Cricketer of the Year 2023 to none other than Australian Test and One-day captain Pat Cummins. Congratulations buddy, very well deserved, a magnificent year for you and for your team."The International Cricket Council (ICC) shared a video of the presentation on their Instagram handle, showcasing the moment when Ponting handed over the trophy to Cummins.Cummins' success is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and leadership skills. He has established himself as one of the most respected and successful cricketers in the world, and his achievements in 2023 have further cemented his legacy.

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, has vehemently denied any possibility of his team manipulating their net run rate to eliminate England from the T20 World Cup 2024. Cummins emphasized that such tactics would violate the Spirit of Cricket.Initially, Australia had the potential to defeat Scotland by a margin that could have eliminated England. However, England's emphatic victory over Oman significantly boosted their net run rate, rendering the scenario moot.Despite Josh Hazlewood's earlier comments suggesting that it would be in Australia's best interests to knock out England, Cummins dismissed them as non-serious. He reiterated that Australia's focus is always on playing to the best of their abilities, regardless of the potential impact on other teams."I think when you go out and play, you are trying your best every time," Cummins said. "Haven't really thought too deeply because it's never really popped up."Cummins acknowledged that net run rate is a factor in the tournament format, but he stressed that it does not alter Australia's approach to the game."It's something you kind of discuss as one of the quirks of the set-up, but in terms of does it change the way we play, absolutely not," he said.With no points or net run rate carried forward to the Super Eight stage, Australia is likely to rest some players against Scotland. Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, and Ashton Agar are potential candidates for inclusion.Mitchell Starc is expected to be available after recovering from calf soreness. Cummins himself was rested for the opening match against Oman.Cummins indicated that player rotation may occur during the group stage but not in the Super Eight stage, despite the demanding schedule."It's a bit of a luxury now in this first section of the tournament, but once we get to the Super Eights, don't think they'll be any resting," he said.

Pat Cummins' Humble Act Highlights Australia's Winning CultureFormer Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has hailed the "culture" of the Australian cricket team after Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins was seen carrying drinks for his teammates during their ICC T20 World Cup opener against Oman.Cummins, who led Australia to victory in the ICC World Test Championship and ICC Cricket World Cup last year, was not included in the playing XI for the match against Oman. However, he showed his commitment to the team by carrying drinks for his teammates.Pathan expressed his admiration for Australia's decision to bench their multi-world championship-winning captain in favor of T20 specialist Nathan Ellis. He noted that Cummins' willingness to carry drinks despite his status as a World Cup-winning skipper demonstrated the team's strong culture."The CULTURE," Pathan tweeted.In the match itself, Australia was restricted to 50/3 at one point but recovered to post a competitive total of 164/5 thanks to half-centuries from Marcus Stoinis and David Warner. Oman's bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, with Mehran Khan being the pick of the bowlers with 2/38.In the run-chase, Oman kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could only manage 125/9 in their 20 overs. Stoinis was the standout performer with the ball for Australia, taking 3/19, while Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, and Mitchell Starc also picked up two wickets each.Stoinis' all-round performance earned him the 'Player of the Match' award.

Pat Cummins Recalls Virat Kohli's Fanatical Fanbase in IndiaAustralian captain Pat Cummins has shared his experiences with Virat Kohli's passionate and aggressive fanbase in India. In a resurfaced video from 2020, Cummins spoke about the relentless attention he received from Indian media and fans after tweeting about Kohli.Cummins recalled an incident where he tweeted hoping Kohli wouldn't score a century. However, when Kohli scored a century against Australia six months later, Cummins' phone "blew up" with replies from Kohli's fans."Indian media... if you live on social media at all, you get absolutely hounded," Cummins joked. "Say anything about Virat Kohli, and look out for the next years."Cummins emphasized that he had intended his tweet as a compliment to Kohli, but it was misinterpreted by his fans."I thought it was a bit of a compliment, 'He's a great player, hope he doesn't score a hundred because he's a gun player,'" Cummins said.Despite the initial backlash, Cummins has had the last laugh in recent encounters with Kohli. In the 2023 World Cup Final, Cummins dismissed Kohli to disrupt India's innings. He also reached the IPL 2024 Final with Sunrisers Hyderabad.With India and Australia both considered favorites for the 2024 T20 World Cup, the possibility of more Kohli-Cummins encounters looms large.

Pat Cummins, the Australian Test and ODI captain, has made a groundbreaking move by signing a four-year contract with the San Francisco Unicorns of Major League Cricket (MLC). This marks a significant departure for Cummins, who has previously only played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) overseas and has not featured in Australia's Big Bash League since 2018-19.Cummins' decision to join the MLC is a testament to the growing stature of the league and the potential of cricket in the United States. "MLC is developing at a rapid rate, and the US market potential is huge for cricket," Cummins said. "While cricket is integral to my involvement, the global network and long-term possibilities offered by the owners specifically, and Silicon Valley more broadly, presented a unique opportunity for me and my life beyond cricket."The MLC is set to take place from July 6 to 29 this year, and Cummins' availability for Australia's tour of the West Indies in June-July next year remains uncertain. However, he does not lead in T20I cricket, so his participation in the MLC could be possible.Cummins will be joined at the San Francisco Unicorns by fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk. Other high-profile signings for the 2024 MLC season include Shakib Al Hasan (Los Angeles Knight Riders), David Miller (Los Angeles Knight Riders), Anrich Nortje (MI New York), Romario Shepherd (MI New York), Aiden Markram (Texas Super Kings), Daryl Mitchell (Texas Super Kings), Nandre Burger (Seattle Orcas), and Obed McCoy (Seattle Orcas).In its second season, the MLC has acquired List A status from the ICC, making it an official T20 league with records counting towards official T20 statistics. This is a significant step for the league and further enhances its credibility.

Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins is brimming with confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup, believing his game is in its best shape in a decade. Fresh from a successful stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Cummins has joined the Australian squad in Barbados, ready to make his mark.Cummins' confidence stems from his impressive performances in the IPL, where he led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the playoffs. He finished the tournament with 17 wickets in 17 matches, showcasing his ability to adapt to the demands of T20 cricket."Probably as well as I have for the last 10 years really," Cummins told cricket.com.au of his T20 bowling. "We played 17 games straight (at the IPL). For the most part, international T20s are after the Test series, and you've got to try and hit a yorker or a slower ball, and then go back to a Test series.""So just getting the pace of the game and executing some of those balls that you need more in T20 cricket than in other formats, I feel really well placed," he added.Cummins emphasized the importance of playing consistently in the same format, which he believes makes a "huge difference" to the tactical side of bowling."A lot of T20 bowling in particular is about thinking through your sequencing of which ball to bowl or when, and I think over the course of the season you get to learn pretty quickly what's working and what isn't.""Even if it doesn't work first game, and you feel like it's never going to work every game, but you know that if you zoom out over the course of the tournament it's going to work for you. So it's nice coming in here with that confidence."Cummins' tenure as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad not only polished his bowling skills but also enhanced his leadership credentials. However, he is content to take a backseat in leadership with Mitchell Marsh stepping up as captain for the T20 World Cup."I'm obviously there to help him if he needs me but it's Mitch's show. I'm certainly there to help ... as are a lot of the senior guys, so he won't be short of help if he needs it," Cummins said.

The Australian cricket team's arrival in the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup was marred by lost luggage, flight delays, and gusty winds. However, all-rounder Ashton Agar revealed that a cruise along the stunning coastline of Barbados helped calm the players' nerves.Pace spearhead Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc returned to Australia after the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a short break. Cummins lost his luggage while en route to the West Indies, but it eventually reached him. Starc and Glenn Maxwell also faced flight delays, spending nights in Los Angeles and Miami before arriving in Barbados.Marcus Stoinis missed a practice match due to a late delivery of his kit. Despite these setbacks, Agar said a cruise on Saturday brought a sense of tranquility to the team."A lot of the boys are coming off a long time in India in the IPL, maybe 48 hours at home for a couple of them, so to do something like that is so refreshing," Agar told reporters. "I think mentally once you've done that, you go into the sessions ready to go, because you've already enjoyed what the Caribbean has to offer."Agar highlighted the memorable moment of watching the sunset from the catamaran. "You've got all the boys sitting on the roof watching the sun go down, having a drink together, having a genuinely good time and enjoying each other's company. It was pretty easy to forget you're here for a World Cup," he quipped.Despite the distractions, Agar attended an optional training session. "Before a tournament where you're not going to train too much when the matches come thick and fast, you want to get all your drills in," he said. "You want to make sure you're good to go, your mechanics are working well, nailing that four-to-six meter length, getting my shoulder on the right path."Australia will open their T20 World Cup campaign against Oman on June 5.