Pat Cummins’ greatest feat in 2023 may be the fact he has surely now silenced his most vocal critics.
Accused of being “woke” by conservative fans and scrutinised as a fast-bowling captain, Cummins has rarely had it easy in the court of opinion.
But even his harshest critic could surely only applaud him after 2023.
After returning home from a tough tour of India early to be with his ill mother before her death, Cummins has had a brilliant seven months on the field.
He led Australia to success in the World Test Championship final, and lifted the Ashes away from home after his side retained the urn against England.
Some still criticised his leadership in the Ashes, unhappy Australia set defensive fields to slow down a Bazball-driven English team hellbent on aggressive cricket.
Australia drew the series to retain the urn, and while they let a 2-0 lead slip, England were unsuccessful for the first time playing under coach Brendon McCullum.
There could be no criticising Cummins during Australia’s ODI World Cup success that followed.
His’ decision to send India in to bat in the final is already the stuff of legend, as was his bowling changes during that six-wicket win.
Almost as good as his captaincy was his own bowling.
When Australia looked set for a third straight loss to start the tournament, it was Cummins who took the key wickets against Sri Lanka to change the campaign.
And in the final it was again Cummins who got the important scalps, while also sending down 10 overs without going for a boundary.
It was fitting therefore that Cummins pulled all the right reins in Australia’s 79-run Boxing Day Test win over Pakistan to finish 2023.
Cummins chose the right moments to bring himself on, and in turn became the first Australia captain to take five wickets in both innings of a Test.
So good was Cummins, that his most vocal Ashes critic Darren Berry took to social media to admit he was wrong for calling for Cummins to resign.
In the words of the former Victoria captain, he was now forced to eat his own words.
Something many others are likely now also doing.
“Tactically, a lot of captains are maligned in hindsight, whether it’s right or wrong,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said.
“I think the most important thing is the planning and discussions you have leading into the decision making.
“(Pat)’s really open with that. A lot of good ideas flow either way from him and his leadership of all the players and coaches. “He’s very level to work with. Across a Test match, you wouldn’t know what the score is based on his body language and I think that’s the art of captaincy.”
And as far as McDonald is concerned, the 30-year-old’s’ best days as captain are likely still ahead of him. “As a leader, he has definitely grown. And I think we’ll see him grow again,” McDonald said.
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