Cummins has a very special leadership style and ability: Hayden

Over the last two years, under Pat Cummins’ leadership, Australia have ticked all the boxes, including winning the 2023 World Test Championship and then silencing the Indian fans, sealing the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. 

But the real test for Cummins is to win against India in a Test series, something that he hasn’t achieved thus far. However, that doesn’t change the fact for Matthew Hayden that Cummins has a ‘very special’ leadership style and ability. 

"He's [Cummins] a great of our game. He has a very special leadership style and ability. It's very different from the former kind of captains of the Australian team that were very much a carrot and stick type approach,” Hayden said. 

"He's operating on a model that's bringing out the individuals' preparation in particular, something in which I think our game struggles, being a team sport. Ultimately, [it's] how you get the best out of an individual. He has a slightly off-centre approach. I followed this team now very closely over the last two years, and they're an extremely close team. Pat is a great leader, and he will go down as one of our greats.”

Australia will be without David Warner, whose aggressive game has been a pillar of strength for the national team over the last decade. Without him, Australia have already faced the void in the series against West Indies and New Zealand. Hayden pointed out that Australia will miss Warner’s services against India. 

"For the first time, it doesn't feel as secure. David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic. He really took that legacy that I'd created through the 2000s. His strike rates in excess of 80 (70.19) gave great momentum to the top order which, otherwise, is quite conservative. So I think he's an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace them,” he said. 

"Now, you can't argue with that. Steve Smith averages 65 (56.97 and has 30 (32) Test match hundreds. You know the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle order batsman is very different. It didn't take long to discover that [in New Zealand earlier in the year when Smith as an opener was not exactly a success]. I said at the time that I didn't like the change. I think it's crazy to think that you have the world's best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position."

It is a unique five-match Test series between India and Australia, the first since 1991. Hayden insisted that a five-match Test series gives the two teams a great chance to come back and win the series. 

"It's going to be an unbelievable series and actually not without great minds coming together. It is even more special by extending it to five Test matches. In three Test matches you always feel half pregnant; in four Test matches there's always that swinging boat whereas in five Test matches, you got a chance to win. You also get a chance to lose and then you get a chance to come back and win. I love it. It's going to be a great series."

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