Cool, calm and collected: Pat Cummins has every bit proven he is the man to take Australia forward.

When Pat Cummins walked up to break his silence on Justin Langer’s exit he proved the future of Australian cricket is safe in his hands.

The merits of Justin Langer’s brutal demise may continue to divide opinion, but Pat Cummins has proven beyond doubt that he is the man to lead Australia forward.

Cummins was urged to break his silence by teammate Usman Khawaja, after deliberately laying low in the wake of Langer’s resignation on Saturday morning.

The danger with not jumping out early and shaping the narrative is that the narrative can then end up shaping you.

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But Wednesday’s press conference saved the day, as Cummins stepped up and delivered the most dignified and thoughtful explanation given so far for why Langer had to go.

It is important that major issues are properly explained and at last this one has been.

The strongest parts of Cummins’ justifications were strong.

Cummins message was strong. Picture: Getty Images

Of course when it’s delivered on a silver platter with such a gracious smile it doesn’t sound as brutal as what the messages basically were.

But essentially, Cummins made it clear Langer shouldn’t be surprised by the player feedback, because he had been receiving it consistently for two years.

Cummins didn’t shy away from the fact there were fundamental differences in Langer’s views on how the team should be coached, and the players’ overriding feeling that they needed less management and more freedom and collaboration on plans and decision-making.

Despite the success of the World Cup and Ashes, Cummins indicated the players’ couldn’t be convinced that tweaks Langer had made to his coaching style – taking more of a back seat – were sustainable over another long-term deal.

Cummins showed Langer the respect of not giving a warts and all airing of his shortcomings, but nor did he dodge the questions he was asked about why the Test great was not the man for the future.

Most importantly, Cummins’ was seemingly truthful with his responses, and his natural authenticity as a person and a leader shone through.

What stood out most was his authenticity. `Getty Images

Despite the impression his charming looks might give, Cummins is no soft touch and Australian cricket has a man in charge who believes in standing for something.

Cummins felt it wouldn’t have been fair for him to speak in the immediate wake of Saturday’s announcement, because the call on Langer wasn’t his to make and that was the job of CA’s decision-makers.

That said, if Cummins felt Langer was the man for the job he’d still be there.

Cricket needed to hear from him, not least of all because Cummins can articulate a message better than the front office.

Under Darren Lehmann and Langer, the Australian cricket team had morphed closer to football with the coach being at least as dominant as the captain in terms of the running of the team.

But that won’t be the case in the Cummins era.

Cummins conquered doubts (including his own) about whether he could handle the heavy load of fast bowling responsibilities and captaincy during his stellar Ashes summer – but that’s when the seas were calm.

The real test was always still to come.

Now the 28-year-old has shown what he’s made of when a storm was raging, and even those who disagree with Langer’s ousting should appreciate Australia has a leader who must be respected.

Originally published as Cool, calm and collected: Pat Cummins has every bit proven he is the man to take Australia forward.