With a broad smile on his face and a medal hanging round his neck, Pat Cummins saved the World Cup trophy on the dais earlier than he began addressing the media on Sunday evening.
Barely an hour again, Australia received its document sixth ODI World Cup title, defeating favorite India on the Narendra Modi Stadium, and captain Cummins appeared blissful to have silenced the house crowd – one thing that he had hoped for on the eve of the marquee conflict.
It was not straightforward to cease a rampaging India – which received all 10 video games within the event, together with the semifinal – within the summit conflict. However as soon as once more proving its character, Australia took a courageous determination by profitable the toss and opting to bowl on what turned out to be a sluggish wicket, and finally managed to bundle out India for 240.
“It’s large. I feel that’s the head of worldwide cricket – profitable an ODI World Cup, particularly over right here in India, in entrance of a crowd like this,” Cummins stated.
Coming into the event after a disappointing collection in opposition to South Africa, Australia misplaced its first two video games earlier than bringing its marketing campaign again on monitor. And as soon as it gained the momentum, there was no trying again.
“It has been an enormous yr for everybody. Our cricket group has been right here in India (for Exams), (performed the) Ashes, (received the) World Take a look at Championship and to prime it off with that is simply large and these are the moments that you simply’ll bear in mind for the remainder of your life…” the captain stated.
Amid debates over the longer term and the relevance of the 50-over format, Cummins had no hesitations in admitting that issues couldn’t get higher than this.
“You solely get a shot at it each 4 years. Even you probably have a ten-year profession, you may solely get two possibilities at it. And yeah, it’s simply the entire cricket world stops with this World Cup. So, it doesn’t get any higher…”
Chasing a slightly difficult complete, Australia struggled at 47 for 3 at one stage earlier than Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne stepped up and stitched a match-winning partnership. And, the captain heaped reward on Head, who stamped his class all through the event regardless of lacking the early phases resulting from a hand damage.
“Travis was phenomenal. A variety of credit score must also go to Andrew McDonald and George Bailey, the selectors, to take a punt. He (Head) had a damaged finger, and a damaged hand for half of the event, however to maintain him within the squad was an enormous danger. And the medical group had been incredible, clearly, to get him into a spot the place he might carry out,” Cummins stated.
“Trav, the participant we’ve seen in Take a look at cricket, simply epitomises every little thing I need out of a cricket group. He takes the sport on, he performs with a smile, he simply places the stress proper again onto the opposition and he’s simply nice enjoyable to be round,” Cummins stated, including with a smile: “I couldn’t be happier for Trav…”