Pat Cummins toasts first Ashes win as captain as ‘what dreams are made of’

The Ashes
Pat Cummins

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side’s emphatic Ashes victory was “what dreams are made of” as he toasted a famous triumph less than five weeks after being given the job.

Cummins was hastily promoted from his position as Tim Paine’s right-hand man after the latter resigned in the aftermath of a sexting scandal.

The new era began in style with a nine-wicket victory over England at The Gabba, before Cummins was forced out of the second Test due to close contact with a Covid case.

Steve Smith took care of another heavy win in his absence and Cummins was fresh to help make it 3-0 on the third morning of the Boxing Day Test.

Speaking after his side thrashed their rivals by an innings and 14 runs in Melbourne, Cummins said: “Winning early on day three doesn’t happen at the MCG. It’s a fantastic result.

“It’s what dreams are made of, how we played. It’s the first Ashes victory for a lot of guys and it doesn’t just feel like a 3-0 victory, it feels like we’re really setting ourselves up for the next few years as well.

“It hasn’t fully hit me but when I think of what it means, I think more of what it means for us as a group of players. This really consolidates that we are a really good, strong cricket side.”

Cummins even had a word for the man who might have been lifting the urn in different circumstances.

“Losing Painey, that was not ideal,” he said.

“We felt for Tim, we wish he was there playing alongside us but as soon as that wasn’t the case we had a job to do.”

Cummins was full of praise for Scott Boland, who produced the performance of a lifetime on debut.

Newcomer Boland earns praise

He was a late addition to the squad after Jhye Richardson pulled up sore following Adelaide and was handed his Baggy Green on his home ground in front of 57,100 adoring fans on Boxing Day.

Scott Boland had a dream debut at his home ground.
Scott Boland had a dream debut at his home ground (Jason O’Brien/PA)

After one wicket and two catches in the first innings the 32-year-old roared onto centre stage, taking sensational figures of six for seven as England slumped to 68 all out.

“I thought it was a really brave call by the selectors to bring in Scotty for this game. Full credit. They’ve made the right call,” said Cummins.

“When you bring in an experienced player like Scotty, why they’re so valuable is it’s not only their on field performance but you know they’re very level, they’ve been through highs and lows.

“Scott is confident in his own ability and just brilliant around the squad. We knew he was going to do a great job for us at the MCG but we’re probably surprised that he took six for seven.”

Pat Cummins

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