Pat Cummins, the Australian skipper, who has seen great success with the team in the last couple of years, rose to peak by winning the 2023 World Cup. Meanwhile, Cummins has decided to take an eight-week break from cricket.
Cricket greats have seen this break as a potential strategic pause to upgrade his performance standards in the upcoming big tournaments, with the primary focus being the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins was last seen for the Unicorns in the MLC 2024, where he played the final only to lose against Freedom, which had three of his fellow countrymen, Maxwell, Head, and skipper Smith.
Cricket Australia would have the desire to manage the skipper’s workload, especially seeing his high caliber and his importance in the upcoming series against India. The break is much needed for the pace bowler, whose intense schedule has led him to pull hamstrings and even an extended ankle.
Cummins clearly stated that the break from cricket is needed to uplift his standards and be back with pace above 140 km/h, sighting longer spells, as these few weeks will help him rebuild his fitness. He looks forward to intense gym work and rehabilitation exercises and will also be less susceptible to injuries.
“Everyone that comes back after a break is a little bit fresher, you never regret it,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
Also acknowledging the significance of the BGT, which Australia has not won for long both on home and away soil, is likely the only vacant cabinet in Pat Cummins’ decorated career.
“I’ve basically been bowling non-stop since the World Test Championship final, nearly 18 months ago. This gives me a good seven or eight weeks completely off bowling so the body can recover, then you start building up again for the summer,”
“It means you can hopefully bowl for a little bit longer, maintaining pace is a bit easier, makes you less susceptible to injuries,” he added.
Cummins seemed positive and also placed faith in his team to win the BGT this time around, with much anticipation around the trophy.
A peek into Cummins’ career
Pat Cummins, the Sydney boy, started playing cricket in 2010 and did not have to wait much to be included in the Australian team. Cummins made his debut for Australia back in 2011 in an all-format series against South Africa.
However, the young Cummins was overshadowed by the presence of maestros Harris, Siddle, Johnson, Starc, and Nannes. Despite a slow start to his career, Cummins rose to fame in 2015, when he was a part of the Australian team that won the World Cup.
Cummins in his short career has relished national trophies, like two World Cups, of which one he himself won as a skipper, a T20 World Cup, and also the WTC, where he led the Aussies to a triumph.
Cummins is one of Australia’s legendary pacers, who has picked 476 International wickets across formats. The 31-year-old pacer has picked 269 Test match wickets, which is the finest among recently active players.
