Cricket: Pat Cummins reacts to IPL riches; Steve Smith expecting to bounce back

Pat Cummins’ $3.17m payday came as a huge shock to the Aussie quick, who was floored when he found out about his record-breaking windfall.

We’d celebrate like this too if we’d just scored a $3.17 million payday.

Even if Pat Cummins was given all the money in the world, Australia coach Justin Langer knows the fast bowler would remain level-headed.

Cummins secured a staggering $3.17 million windfall last Thursday after being picked up by Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The fierce bidding war ensured the star paceman became the most expensive overseas buy in IPL history.

Cummins said he was sitting at home during the auction.

“I found a stream of it and watched it and couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“The first thing my girlfriend said was, ‘We can buy the dog a couple more toys now’, so she’s got her priorities sorted.”

Despite the riches of Twenty20 cricket, Langer says the 26-year-old spearhead will be able to handle the increased expectations.

“You could pay him (Cummins) $100 million, you could pay him $1 billion, it’s not going to change him,” Langer told reporters on Tuesday.

“They’re the sort of people you want in your team.

“You could pay him a billion dollars a day and it’s not going to change him.

“He just loves playing cricket, he’s an outstanding young bloke … it’s not going to affect him.”

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Cummins was one of three Australians to be picked up for more than $1m in the IPL auction — the others being Glenn Maxwell ($2.2m) and Nathan Coulter-Nile ($1.6m).

Australian quick Josh Hazlewood will also play in the IPL next year but Langer has no concerns about player burnout.

“In this cycle, it’s going to be hopefully really valuable (more players in the IPL) to us with T20 World Cup,” Langer said.

I’m going to buy that mansion over there.

SMITH READY TO FEAST COME BOXING DAY

It would be harsh to label it a form slump this early on.

But by his own lofty standards, Steve Smith’s summer hasn’t gone to plan. The former Australian captain, who boasts a remarkable Test batting average of 63.14, has made just 99 runs in four innings at home.

He’s yet to post a half-century in Australia’s three consecutive Test wins over Pakistan (twice) and New Zealand.

“It would be (irking him) because he loves batting so much,” coach Justin Langer said.

“But if you’re playing good cricket, the team’s winning and Steve Smith’s not doing well, it puts a smile on everyone’s face because you know it’s not far off.

“Anyone who averages 63 in Test cricket, you know they’re coming, and he loves the big stage.

“I’m looking forward to watching him bat.”

Smith, who has posted 26 career hundreds and 27 fifties in 71 Test matches, produced knocks of 43 and 16 in the first Test against New Zealand. He predicted he’d face more of the short-pitched barrage that the visitors dished up in Perth, which prompted comparisons to the infamous Bodyline Ashes series of 1932-33.

“I’ve changed a little bit, as in I’ve been facing a fair bit of short stuff in the nets because I’m expecting a bit,” Smith said.

Smith is expecting better results with the red ball.

Smith admitted he has struggled at times against the pink ball, which was used in the Perth and Brisbane day-night Tests this summer.

The 30-year-old right-hander said the pink ball comes off the bat “a bit like a tennis ball”, is harder to pick up than the red one, and that his timing is off when facing it.

He is relishing the prospect of the trans-Tasman series switching back to the red ball in Melbourne.

“It’s going to be completely different with the red ball as opposed to the pink ball,” Smith said.

“Particularly the second innings in Perth, when it was a bit up and down with cracks and stuff. That’s never easy at any time, particularly when they’re bowling short to you.

“It’s going to be different, but I’m looking forward to it.

“We’ll just sum up the situation and do what needs to be done at the time.”