MCG photo exposes brutal Pat Cummins truth

Drama has swirled after Australia’s thrilling Boxing Day Test victory with Pat Cummins at the centre of everything.

Pat Cummins, we’re not worthy.

The Australian captain took another big stride towards cricketing immortality during the Boxing Day Test — yet it is fair to say his greatness has snuck up on many.

His bowling skill has never been questioned, but opinions around his captaincy and popularity have swung dramatically depending on Australia’s results.

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For perhaps the first time in his career, Cummins will head into next month’s series against the West Indies with enough credit in the bank to be untouchable in the court of public opinion.

His 10-wicket heroics during Australia’s thrilling Boxing Day Test win over Pakistan put him in the record books, becoming the first Australian captain since Allan Border to take 10 wickets in a Test and the first Aussie bowler to take 10 scalps at the MCG since 1991.

He matched his bowling with cunning captaincy moves in the field and bold leadership when striking with the ball every time his team looked in trouble.

It suddenly seems a long time ago that Cummins’ team was described as “un-Australian”.

Australia’s flop in the T20 World Cup last year ended with a suggestion from former Test captain Michael Clarke that Cummins’ team wasn’t liked by the average punter.

A team Australia loves. Pic: Michael Klein.

“Captain woke” was one piece of the tapestry. Cummins’ role in the demise of former Aussie coach Justin Langer was the other big piece, having famously been called “gutless” by Aussie Test great Mitchell Johnson.

Since then Cummins has had to be perfect to bring a somewhat disenchanted Australian public along with his team — and he has been exactly that.

Retain the Ashes against England? Tick.

World Test Championship final against India? Tick.

The World Cup final against India? Tick.

Defeat Pakistan on home soil? Tick.

And he has done it all with class.

It’s why a photo captured from inside the MCG after Australia had completed its 79-run victory, shows exactly how far the pendulum has swung back in Cummins’ favour.

As snapped by leading cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan, everybody wants a piece of Pat. Fans waited hours after the match to meet the Aussie players and it exposes a brutal truth for many to have to swallow. We were wrong.

Twelve months ago many wondered whether this Australian team led by Pat Cummins was liked by the Australian public. After what has been a red-letter year it seems very clear that this Australian team led by Pat Cummins is loved by the Australian public as seen at the MCG #AusvPakpic.twitter.com/fEGA0uk20t

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 29, 2023

A public comment from Aussie cricket great Darren Berry was also reflective of the dramatic backflip from Aussie punters.

Berry on Friday admitted he got it wrong when predicting Cummins would step down from the captaincy following the Ashes. At the time of Berry’s comment, Cummins was being widely slammed for the disastrous short-ball barrage tactics during Australia’s emphatic Fourth Test defeat.

Berry wrote: “Here is my take Pat Cummins is a magnificent cricketer no doubt but remember this msg. He will resign from the captaincy after the Ashes series. The Q is do they go back to Smudge or move forward to Head or Marsh? Ashton Turner T20.”

Pat Cummins and wife Rebecca Boston on the MCG after the fans had left. Photo: Instagram, @patcummins30 and Twitter, @beastieboy07.

Pat Cummins can do no wrong. Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Berry had tweeted earlier that day: “This is unwatchable. Goodnight to all lovers of the game of our great game of cricket. This is absolutely insane to anyone watching this s**t with half a clue about the game. Enough is enough now keep banging ‘em in lads WTF.”

And when Cameron Green mercifully ended the innings by trapping Anderson LBW, Berry tweeted: “Well knock me over with a feather, a fast ball at the stumps to the No. 11 gets him out. I’m shocked. What a circus. Never seen anything like this ever.”

Now Berry is eating his words, after Cummins delivered a tactical masterclass — and a personal 10-wicket haul — in the Boxing Day Test.

Berry took to Twitter to write: “Pat Cummins I was wrong. I questioned your tactical nous and your tenure as skipper during the frustrating Ashes series.

“Once again today at the G you have lead our country over the line with your big [heart emoji] & immense skill, they were never in question. I’m so happy to eat my words.”

He is not the only one eating his words.

With a team of players mostly in their thirties entering the twilight of their career, 2023 shaped as a legacy defining year for the Australians.

No longer will they go down as a good team, but a great one. Thanks Pat.

Originally published as MCG photo exposes brutal Pat Cummins truth