(Credit Sportzpics)
In 2023, Pat Cummins showcased exceptional leadership prowess, guiding Australia to victory in the World Test Championship, securing the Ashes in England, and clinching the ODI World Cup in India. His stellar performance on the field earned him the prestigious title of ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.
While Cummins couldn’t lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory in the IPL 2024, Shane Watson acknowledges the remarkable leadership qualities that set the ace fast-bowler apart.
“A couple of things to stand out in terms of Pat Cummins. One is that he allows people to be themselves. He allows people to play with freedom. So whether that’s you’ve seen someone like Travis Head for Australia, you’ve seen someone like Mitchell Marsh who have come under Pat Cummins’ leadership and they have absolutely thrived because he just said, you just go out and you just be you,” Watson said in an exclusive interview with IANS, on the sidelines of his new book ‘The Winner’s Mindset’.
“If you wanna like take the game on from ball one, then you do it, if you believe you’ve got the skills and you’ve got a run of it. You’re not like if you miss out in a couple of games, you’re not gonna be dropped. So that’s number one. But the other thing with you can see Pat on the field is he’s just himself. He’s a chilled, and relaxed guy that doesn’t get fired up.”
“He doesn’t get angry; he’s just very calm and stays that way and keeps that level of calmness. So, then people around him feel that as well. So that’s, that’s where they sort of move their energy to as well. That’s what you need under pressure, you need a captain who’s not going to be putting extra pressure on you to be able to execute your skills.”
“Instead, he gives you the right information to be able to clear your mind so you can, and are getting the best chance of executing your skills. That’s what Pat Cummins does so incredibly well. The reason why in my mind, he’s had so much success is that it’s just natural, which is who he is, how he is and he’s not trying to be someone else. He’s just being himself, which is getting the best out of people around him,” he concluded.
