Pat Cummins has had a huge 12 months which has resulted in him becoming one of, if not Australia’s most popular player among fans and winning the Allan Border Medal.
Aside from the obvious - bowling fast, taking wickets and scoring valuable lower order runs, I thought I’d take a look at some of the reasons he’s adored by fans and the traits that you’d do well in adopting from the star quick…
1. He's Adaptable
No doubt Cummins would probably love the new ball. He bowls with it for NSW and Thunder.
But he’s been given a job to do with Australia, coming on first change, and he’s adapted to it brilliantly.
He bowls from any end and bowls whenever he’s given the ball. He doesn’t whinge or complain. He gets on with it and does his job.
Become Adaptable.
2. He Gives 100% One Hundred Percent Of The Time
Pat Cummins runs in and bowls at 100% - all the time.
He bowls the same pace in his last spell as he does in his first which isn’t always common in fast bowlers.
He puts a huge price on his wicket for a number 8 batsman and tries to bat for as long as he can, no matter how hostile the bowling is.
Every time Cummins has the bat or ball in his hands it looks like he’s playing to win or save the game, no matter what situation Australia are in.
You should strive to do the same.
3. He’s a Fierce Competitor
Pat Cummins competes hard.
There were some times during the recent test series where Australia were no hope of winning or saving the game and he was batting against some pretty hostile bowling on lively decks. Cummins scrapped for long periods of time, when a lot of other fast bowlers would have had a swing to get out of there as fast as they could.
On the flip side - when he’s on song and Australia are on top, he puts his foot on the oppositions throat which we saw with some devastating spells of fast bowling and it was great to see him get some bags of wickets.
When the competition is even and the wicket is flat - he seems to more often than not force something to happen.
Learn to compete like Cummins.
4. He’s Humble
I think another reason Cummins is so likeable is because he’s humble.
As I said earlier, he never complains or whinges about bowling first change or where he bats.
He never boasts about how good he is or how he’s going to do this and that.
He gets on with it, lets the bat and ball do the talking and gracefully accepts any accolades that come his way.
Be humble.
5. The Way He Carries Himself Off The Field
I don’t know Pat personally but from the outside it looks like he’s got his life and priorities in order.
He’s in a long term relationship with a partner he seems to treat with love and respect. He seems to have a good set of values and morals and he’s never in the media for poor behaviour or any of the wrong reasons.
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone say a bad word about him!
If you model your off field behaviour on Cummins, you’ll position yourself well.
Now, go work at applying these five traits to your game and life.
Author: Nick Fitzpatrick - Australian Cricket Institute Co-Founder & Coach
