At the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday, Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting presented the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year award to fellow Aussie star Pat Cummins. Ponting, an ICC Hall of Famer who won the same honour in 2006 and 2007, handed over the prestigious trophy to Cummins in recognition of his outstanding performance in 2023. Under Cummins' leadership, Australia's Test and One Day International teams achieved significant victories, including winning the World Test Championship against India at The Oval and clinching the ODI World Cup in Ahmedabad against the same formidable opponent.
On an individual level, Cummins excelled throughout the year. In Test cricket, he claimed 42 wickets at an average of 27.50 and scored 254 runs, playing a crucial role in Australia's Test win in India and the successful retention of the Ashes in England. His contribution to Australia's World Cup victory was equally notable, as he took 15 wickets and added 128 runs at an average of 32, showcasing his all-round abilities.
Looking forward, Cummins has the chance to lead Australia to further glory with a T20 World Cup victory in 2024, potentially securing both the white-ball World Cup and the World Test Championship in the same year.
The 31-year-old has continued to deliver impressive performances in 2024. So far, he has taken 17 Test wickets at an average of 25.64 and scored 157 runs at 26 with the bat. Additionally, in T20 Internationals, he has taken five wickets with an economy rate of under eight runs per over.
Cummins is currently part of Australia's playing XI in their Super 8 match against Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024. Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first.
Despite resilient efforts from Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 41, and Towhid Hridoy, who contributed a rapid 40 off 28 balls, Cummins' remarkable hat-trick played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh to 140/8. Alongside Adam Zampa, who also bowled effectively, Cummins ensured Australia maintained control in this crucial Super 8 encounter at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
For Australia, Cummins and Zampa were the standout performers with the ball, sharing five wickets between them. Hridoy's aggressive batting was a highlight for Bangladesh, helping them reach a competitive total despite the challenging conditions.