Follow UsThere’s already a strong claim that Pat Cummins will go down as one of Australia’s greatest-ever skippers. Over the last three years, Cummins has won the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final and later, the 2023 ODI World Cup title in India.
Whilst Australia started as favourites during the 2023 WTC final at The Oval, they were always the second-fiddle heading into the big-ticket final in Ahmedabad. Fittingly, Cummins ranked the six-wicket win in the 50-over tournament over the red-ball title.
"Having two maces is a really significant thing to show for that period of time – we feel like we have been the best team in the world across all different conditions and to hold the mace at the end of that would be a great sign of something to point to now but also down the track,” Cummins told cricket.com.au.
"The ODI World Cup of 2023 is going to be hard to top, that's number one for me.
"But I do believe the [World Test Championship] mace is just below that in terms of you're up against every other team in the world and you've been successful for a couple of years to make the final, so the mace means a lot."
What’s worked in Australia’s favour is that they have had several match-winners, who have turned up at the right time to lead them over the line.
"It takes a whole army really, there's been 15-plus players who have played in (the team) but the staff as well who worked hard over that period," Cummins added.
"You need players across different conditions, different injuries, and the pleasing thing as well is we've had quite a few debutants in this cycle who have stepped up and really made a name for themselves.
"There's a real trust and calmness in the group that comes from having success over the last couple of years. The last four years or so has been hugely successful for this group and it's (been) such a great chunk of our careers for players and staff," the 32-year-old said.
Australia can culminate that successful four-year period with a second red-ball title, if they win against South Africa in the upcoming WTC final, on June 11 (Wednesday).