“Legacy-Defining”: Winning Ashes after World Test Championship Triumph, Affirms Pat Cummins
According to captain Pat Cummins, clinching the Ashes following their World Test Championship final victory would be a “legacy-defining” achievement for Australia. The Australian team displayed ruthless dominance, securing a resounding 209-run triumph over India at The Oval to claim their maiden Test title. As the Ashes series commences on Friday, Australia aims to secure their first series victory in England since 2001.
Cummins, aged 30, emphasized the significant impact the Ashes has on defining eras and teams, stating, “Whether we like it or not, Ashes tend to define eras and teams.” Australia’s previous Ashes series win took place in 2015, while they won four out of the five Tests in the 2021-22 edition held on their home soil.
Reflecting on their recent achievements, Cummins expressed his team’s satisfaction, saying, “We’ve played awesome cricket for the last two years and being there at the end holding the trophy feels really well deserved. That’s great for our team, and Ashes are hard to win. It’s not going to be easy, but if we were to win it, that is legacy-defining stuff.”
The Test Championship follows a two-year cycle, during which Australia dominated the league stage and controlled the final match from start to finish. With England’s improved fortunes and style, winning 11 out of 13 Tests in the past 12 months under the captaincy of Ben Stokes, the upcoming Ashes series has become highly anticipated.
As the focus shifts to the Ashes, Cummins stated, “We’ve got a big series, but we can worry about that in a couple of days’ time.” He added, “We’ll sit around in the changing rooms for a while and then we’ll find a nice sunny English beer garden somewhere to sit back and celebrate. It’s been an amazing two years. We’ve had this final in the diary for a while. You only get a few of these moments in your career where you can sit back, acknowledge a pretty special achievement, and this is one of those times.”
Regarding team selection, Cummins confirmed that fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who missed the match against India due to side and Achilles issues, will be fit for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. This leaves Australia with the task of choosing between Hazlewood, Cummins, Scott Boland, and Mitchell Starc for their three pace bowling spots. Boland made a strong impression with his five-wicket haul against India and claimed 18 wickets in the three matches of the 2021-22 Ashes. Meanwhile, Starc contributed with four wickets against India and provides a left-arm angle for variation.
Cummins reassured, “We’ll all have a look at everyone over the next couple of days, but I don’t think there are any red flags [about workload] at all. We all bowled probably 30-odd overs, so – not super heavy – so all feeling great.”
4 comments
Pat Cummins is right, winnin’ the Ashes after the World Test Championship victory would totally define Australia’s legacy! They played like beasts, completely dominatin’ India at The Oval. The Ashes is a big deal, and if they win it, it’ll be somethin’ for the history books, no doubt about it.
The Test Championship is no joke, and Australia proved they’re the best by toppin’ the league stage and convincin’ly winnin’ the final. Now, they gotta focus on the Ashes, which promises to be an excitin’ series. England’s been doin’ well lately, but Australia’s got the talent to give ’em a tough fight. Can’t wait to see it unfold!
Wow, what a journey it’s been for Australia! From playin’ some amazin’ cricket over the past two years to holdin’ the World Test Championship trophy, they deserve all the celebrations. The Ashes is gonna be a challenge, but if they manage to clinch it, it’ll be a moment they’ll never forget. Good luck to both teams!
The Ashes is always a test of grit and skill, and it’s no different this time. Australia’s got Hazlewood back in form, and with the likes of Cummins, Boland, and Starc, their pace attack is lookin’ fierce. England, on the other hand, has been on a roll with Stokes leadin’ the way. This series is gonna be nail-biting, no doubt about it. Can’t wait for the action to unfold on the pitch!