NEWS
Follow UsPat Cummins felt that the 4-0 Ashes win over England is the beginning of a new era in Test cricket for Australia after the dominant win at Hobart. The hosts sealed the Ashes by winning the first three Test, drew the fourth Test and lifted the Urn with a dominant 146-run win in the fifth Test.
"It's pretty crazy," Cummins said at the post-match presentation. "Even as a professional cricketer these are the series you have in your diary a couple of years out. To be at the end of a five-Test series with so many positives - winning 4-0 - it's huge so really pumped." he added.
Cummins who took over the Test captaincy ahead of the Ashes from Tim Paine, was delighted with his first outing as the skipper.
" I'm really happy as a captain, not sure Nathan Lyon agrees with me...think that's been a highlight, not only the 11 guys playing but we've had about 15 players used and some really tough calls to leave out high quality players," he said.
The 28-year old admitted that he was apprehensive if captaincy would affect his wicket-taking abilities.
"That was probably my biggest worry in accepting the role as captain. I'm in the team as a bowler. I want to make sure that's protected and I'm able to perform as well as I'd like. I think with each game I felt better at managing that. I could really switch off, take off the captain's hat and just be a bowler for my overs," said Cummins, who finished as the series top wicket-taker with 21 scalps from four Tests.
The Australian skipper was pleased with the performances from newcomers Cameroon Green and Scott Boland who set up the big win at Hobart and put in big performances in the series.
"Really feels like we are building to something big. To have someone like Cameron Green in his second year to grow as a batter and bowler as well as some of the younger players then the hold stalwarts like Scotty Boland and all the old-pros continue their form. Can't wait to show our wares overseas, we really judge ourselves in all conditions," Cummins said.
Cummins hailed Green, who blitzed through the England line-up with three wickets in the second innings Test and scored 74 in the first innings, as a complete package.
"He's just as good as any allrounder in the world at the moment I think. For someone so young, as a captain, I feel really lucky not only to draw on him as a bowler but when he's next into bat I just feel so calm. He showed he absolutely belongs at this level is a Test batter and then as a bowler, he's a genuine fourth quick," Cummins said in the press conference.
"He is absolutely the complete package. But he's young, so we've got to keep looking after him. But a bright future ahead."
Visiting captain Joe Root reflected on a poor outing where England suffered with loss of batting form and multiple injuries to key players.
"It's been a really tough tour. We've played good cricket in parts, just not been able to structure a whole game together. It's something we have to learn from and not go away and keep making the same mistakes. It's pretty obvious we need to be putting more runs on the board. Too often we've not given our bowlers enough to work. We've been outplayed in all areas and credit to Australia," Root said.
Travis Head, who laid the foundation for the win with a superb 101 in the first innings at Hobart, was ecstatic after being named Player of the Match and Series for his contribution of 357 runs from four Tests.
"Great to have an impact, probably look at this [hundred] being better. The conditions, situation we were in, to be able to play a role and win a Test is pretty special. I've worked on a lot of things over the last couple of years and I didn't quite the opportunities and after 19 Tests I had a reasonable idea of what the expectation was and was so eager to get back. It helps batting behind a couple of blokes who average 60," Head said.
