Pat Cummins, an Inspiration: Ian Chappell Lauds Aussie Skipper's Leadership and Grit

Pat Cummins is an inspiration, and Ian Chappell is certain of it. He goes so far as to remark that someone "is in the wrong game" if they are not motivated by Australia's current captain.

Within the span of six months, Cummins has managed to hold onto the Ashes, win the World Test Championship, and win the most coveted award of all, the ODI World Cup.

"Any cricketer who isn't inspired by Cummins is in the wrong game," Chappell stated in his ESPNcricinfo column.

Cummins would have made an excellent captain regardless. He was without a doubt the Australian team's most inspirational player and one who was endowed with cricketing common sense, putting aside for a moment the challenges of being a fast-bowling captain."

The former captain of Australia also appreciates how Cummins displays aggression without going too far. Watching Cummins and his team perform is energizing. A common description of Cummins' side is that of an extremely aggressive Australian unit without the unpleasant side effects.

"I would rank Cummins up there with Mark Waugh and Anil Kumble as tough rivals who express their intentions only through their behavior. Speaking loudly doesn't automatically translate into being a tough player—quite often, the opposite is true," Chappell said.

Chappell also lauded Cummins's capacity for setting a good example. Cummins also has a great heart and bowls a fast pace, and he has the highly regarded ability to take a wicket when it matters most. To top it all off, he bowls well and consistently gets the best batters in the opposition off. With these attributes, he is more than qualified to be an inspirational captain," he stated.

Delving further into Cummins' leadership, Chappell drew comparisons between him and some of the best bowling captains in world cricket history, including Ray Illingworth of England, Richie Benaud of Australia, and Imran Khan of Pakistan.

"Cummins is positioning himself in that group by doing well as a captain across a range of nations, formats, and circumstances. In a time when limited-overs cricket was expanding quickly, only Imran—a superb leader with tremendous presence—played," the author wrote.

"Taking a stance in today's cutthroat social media environment is difficult for players, but Cummins has shown the bravery to speak out on topics he is deeply committed to.

"Even in the ultra-demanding climate of Australian cricket, he has earned the right to remain captain for as long as he wants the role," said Chappell.

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