In a fantastic turn of events for Pat Cummins, the captain of Australia’s cricket team, 2023 keeps getting better. He’s now been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December. Thanks to his recent outstanding performance at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the right-arm pacer greatly contributed to Australia’s stunning 3-0 score against Pakistan. It marked a brilliant beginning to Australia’s home season games.
In all three Tests, Cummins captained Australia. He bagged five-wicket hauls in three games straight and ended being the Series’ Player. He took home 19 wickets in total.
He was crucial to the thrilling Boxing Day Test victory in Melbourne, in particular. In the last session of Day 4, Cummins orchestrated a collapse that included the crucial dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan, securing his second career 10-wicket haul.
In order to win the accolade, Cummins had to overcome Taijul Islam of Bangladesh and Glenn Phillips of New Zealand thanks to his performance in the Test series.
Following Travis Head’s win in the previous month due to his exceptional performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, this marks yet another Australian clinching the honour for the second month straight.
Pat Cummins gears up for Test series at home against West Indies
Even after a stellar home series win over Pakistan, the current Test champions will put forward their top Eleven. This includes big names like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood in the pace trio.
“Realistically the word rest and rotated gets thrown around a lot but you never miss a Test if you are fully fit. While over the last couple of years, we might have been rested from the odd game, the bulk of work we’ve been able to do is because of those small gaps. If we are fully fit we won’t be resting.”
Pat Cummins
For the next ODI series, Steve Smith will lead the squad, and the pacer has been rested. There is a plan for Cummins to adjust his game time as he looks to the 2024 IPL season and the 2024 T20 World Cup happening in the Caribbean and USA.
The first Australia v. West Indies Test game starts on Wednesday, January 17, at Adelaide Oval.