Cricket News: Pat Cummins thriving as a captain and Sri Lanka cricket brings joy amidst the gloom
Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has vouched for Pat Cummins to be the next permanent skipper of the Aussie side and believes the speedster has everything it takes to be a world-class leader
Image credit: pia.images.co.uk Cummins to be Australia's next captainPat Cummins - a surprise choice as captain thriving with responsibility
A sexting scandal with a colleague cost Tim Paine his captaincy, and Australia got their 47th test Captain in the form of the experienced fast bowler - Pat Cummins right before the 2021-2022 Ashes series. The 29-year-old fast bowler had been the vice-captain of the Australian test team since 2019 and is now leading the Aussies, maintaining his 1st spot as a test bowler.
Under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, Australia won the prestigious 2021-2022 Ashes series by 4-0 in the five-match test series against England. The responsibility of captaincy did not harm his performance. Pat Cummins was the leading wicket-taker for the third consecutive Ashes series with 21 wickets in 4 matches even though he was unavailable for the 2nd test due to COVID protocols. After that, Australia toured Pakistan after 24 years, and he went on to win the Benaud-Qadir trophy against Pakistan by 1-0 in the three-match test series. It was Australia’s first overseas test series win since 2016. He was also the joint leading wicket-taker along with Nathan Lyon with 12 wickets. Australia is currently playing a test series against Sri Lanka, where they bowled out the complete Sri Lankan team in 59 overs in the first inning.
Australia is yet to lose a test match under the leadership of Pat Cummins and is already at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table with 75 PCT.
Sri Lanka cricket brings good news to the country besieged by strive.
Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst-hit economic crisis struggling for the necessities like food, fuel, and medicine. The country is moving towards bankruptcy with a massive amount of foreign debt. Australia’s series gave a financial boost to Sri Lanka cricket. The income generated from tickets for all the matches in the tour is donated to public welfare initiatives. Amidst the economic crisis in the country, Sri Lankan cricketers stood tall to seal the series.
The Sri Lankan cricket team brought great news to the country by winning the ODI series against Australia by 3-2. Sri Lanka clinched their first ODI series at home against mighty Australia in 30 years giving Sri Lankan fans moments of happiness amid the crisis.
Sri Lanka won the 4th ODI in the last-ball thriller as Charith Asalanka scored a brilliant century to win the series. Kusal Mendis is awarded the “Player of the Series”. SL skipper Dasun Shanaka placed attacking fields with perfect catching positions. Charith Asalanka has continued to rise as the left-hander averages over 50 in the series along with Pathum Nissanka. U19 WC star Dunith Wellalage and mystery spinner Wanindu Hasaranga troubled Australian batters with their bowling. The love and support provided by Sri Lankan fans were extraordinarily emotional and impressive. Sri Lankan fans thanked Cricket Australia and the players by covering the entire stadium with yellow. After the T2O World Cup debacle, the young Sri Lankan team is getting better daily, competing against the top teams.