Cummins reaches pinnacle

Pat Cummins is widely regarded as an all-round nice guy with an excellent cricketing brain, doggedly overcoming early career injuries to reach the pinnacle of the game.

A decade after making his international debut, he is not only the world’s premier bowler but Australia’s 47th Test skipper, elevated to one of the nation’s highest-profile roles after Tim Paine quit over a sexting scandal.

“He’s got the utmost respect from teammates, and everyone in world cricket. He’s earned that from the way he has conducted himself,” said legend Shane Warne of the Sydney-born 28-year-old.

Earmarked as a potential star from a young age, Cummins burst on the scene aged 18, taking seven wickets to set up a two-wicket win and earn man-of-the match in a Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011. 

A series of stress fractures in his lower back derailed his career and plagued him with doubts.

“I just remember being ultra-frustrated,” Cummins said last year. “Everyone wanted to talk about my debut but I wanted to prove myself again and again, and show that it wasn’t just a once-off. I felt like the only thing holding me back really was my body, and there was no real end in sight. It was a tough few years.”

He emerged from those dark times -- and the pain and rehab that went with it -- a stronger person and cricketer and his persistence saw him selected again for Australia’s tour of India in 2017. 

With his body toughened up, he came through that sub-continental test unscathed and quickly became a mainstay in all three formats, not only as consistent and reliable but also devastating.

His 34 Tests have yielded 164 wickets, to go with 111 in ODIs and 42 in T20s.

“Pat is extremely intelligent, an outstanding player and has an excellent cricket brain, so is ideal for the role,” former Australia captain Greg Chappell said in a column.