Relaxed and empowered: Let the Cummins era begin

With the exception of the coin toss and the broadcast chat that will follow, Pat Cummins has finally completed his off-field captaincy duties and the world's number one ranked Test bowler can now set his mind to doing what he does best.

Cummins was typically impressive in his maiden captain's pre-Test press conference in the bowels of the Gabba today: telegenic, considered and confident, he worked his way through 30 minutes of questions in a style more befitting the experience of the great Allan Border, whose statue was today unveiled outside the venue.

He grinned when he spoke of 'Captain Grumpy' being a little before his time but called out a host of modern-day Australian Test skippers as influences, then cited the traits he will look to borrow from their respective leaderships.

"Similar to when I debuted and received my Baggy Green, you're part of that history," Cummins said. "And I remember thinking that was a really cool moment that tied together Donald Bradman, and Richie Benaud, and all the greats of the game.

"On a different level, it's almost crazy being the 47th men's Test captain, (the) lineage of Painey (Tim Paine), 'Smithy' (Steve Smith), Ricky Ponting. Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh – they're legends of the game, (who) I grew up watching.

"You can pick out different parts of each captain. Steve Waugh was with us in the Ashes last time (in 2019), and he was great, how simple he kept things. There's so much noise and things going on, and data and things to get caught up with, especially us cricket lovers – the way he just distilled it down and kept it really simple was great.

"Michael Clarke made me feel 10-feet tall when I walked out to bowl, even if I didn't feel like I was super confident.

"Ricky Ponting, just a great people person. Steve Smith just led from the front. Painey, great people person … so great examples to take from all of them."

Image Id: 94852092DB724098B29205B599538949 Image Caption: 'You can pick out different parts of each captain' Ponting with a young Cummins // Getty

As the Cummins era begins in red-ball cricket, the new skipper said he hoped he can stay relaxed ("it's when I play my best cricket, and I think most people play their best when they're relaxed and focused"), adding he had benefited from conversations with his white-ball counterpart, Aaron Finch, in recent times, while also learning under his leadership.

The starkest example of that was also the most recent; Australia's surprising T20 World Cup triumph marked a shift in culture after some "tough and robust discussions" between Finch, Paine, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley and former chair Earl Eddings provided clarity around the players' expectations regarding an ideal team environment.

Part of that was a greater and clearer delegation of roles and responsibilities from head coach Justin Langer, who Cummins said has responded impressively.

"I've really enjoyed being vice-captain under 'Finchy' the last two or three years," he said. "I think the environment we created in the World Cup is a blueprint. It's slightly different, T20s and Test cricket, (and) the demands, but I think the relaxed environment, empowering everyone to do it their own way (is the same).

"'JL' (Langer) has been great. He's certainly still head coach, but I think the environment that he creates not only for the players, but the coaches around him, really empowers them.

"You've seen (batting coach) Michael Di Venuto really take charge of the batting, (assistant coach) Andrew McDonald take charge of the bowling – it's just really good, clear roles for everyone in the team.

"It's in some ways taking a step back and let(ting) the players really dictate the environment they want.

"It worked incredibly well over in the World Cup, and he has huge credit to do with that, and hopefully it continues for this summer. He's been great so far.

"They're great lessons we learned over in the World Cup that work, and we'd like to continue that on."

Cummins seems well-equipped to now dismiss all the talk of culture and captaincy and switch into bowling mode, and the right-arm quick couldn't be beginning his new journey at a better venue: nowhere has he taken more Test wickets than his 25 at the Gabba, which have arrived every 39.9 deliveries at a frugal 17.92 runs apiece.

Together with Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon – and excluding the all-round services of Cameron Green – it is the same attack that triumphed four-nil in the Ashes four summers ago.

When talk turned to match-ups with England batters or potential areas to exploit, Cummins reiterated a message he made clear throughout the press conference: he wants his players to focus on performing their skills as best they can, rather than worrying about what an opponent may or may not do.

"We'll be concentrating on what we do really well," he said. "We won't be getting caught up in too many grand plans or changing too much of what we do for certain players.

"We've got a few ideas, but I don't think you'll see too different to what we normally do."

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: December 8-12, The Gabba

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, TBC