Pat Cummins says he is a better captain than Michael Clarke as preparation for cricket to return to Olympics ramps up
- Pat Cummins is a clear fan of his own leadership style
- Thinks he is a better captain than Michael Clarke was
- Both men have been highly successful as Australian Test captains
Australian Test star Pat Cummins has raised eyebrows after openly stating he is a better captain than Michael Clarke.
Cummins, 31, was a guest on KIIS FM’s breakfast show The Kyle & Jackie O on Tuesday and didn’t hesitate when quizzed by shock jock Kyle Sandilands about his leadership qualities.
‘Well, I mean, you’ve got to stand up for yourself, right? So, of course [I’m a better captain]the decorated fast player, who has taken 269 Test wickets, told listeners.
I did it [captaincy] for two years he has [Clarke] did it for about five years.
‘I mean he’s got a pretty good record… he was also my captain when I first started playing [Test cricket].
Cummins made his Test debut in 2011 against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, aged just 18.
Remarkably enough it was just his fourth first-class match of his career.
In November 2021, he replaced Tim Paine as Australia’s Test captain and has enjoyed a golden period since then.
Australian Test star Pat Cummins has raised eyebrows after openly stating he is a better captain than Michael Clarke
Clarke was Australia’s Test captain between 2011 and 2015 – and was also the captain for the ODI World Cup victory on home soil in 2015
These include the ICC World Test Championship, England retaining the Ashes and last year’s ODI World Cup after beating a shocked India in front of their home fans.
Cummins also followed the Paris Olympics closely and was excited when it was confirmed that the sport will be held at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“It was great to see the whole country behind it. I would love to experience the Olympics as an athlete myself. That would be amazing,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cummins is expected to play for NSW ahead of the much-anticipated Test series against India this summer.
‘Ronnie [coach Andrew McDonald] “Called me the other day and said we need to talk about this,” Cummins told News Corp.
‘I prefer to go into it a bit fresher, but I will definitely play a game of cricket as well.
So I would say that it [going to be] two or three ODIs for the Blues, plus a Shield match. ‘I think I’ll start building up for the Tests in late October/early November.’
And with a series against Sri Lanka coming shortly after the five-Test match against India, Cummins is unlikely to play with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League in December.