Triumphant images of Pat Cummins smacking the winning runs to claim the first Test at Edgbaston has left Aussie supporters with a gleeful smile on Wednesday morning.
But should everyone be jumping on the bandwagon alongside the polarising captain?
It’s been a wild ride for Cummins since he was named Australia’s Test captain in November 2021 following the resignation of Tim Paine.
His reputation has been put through the ringer by hard-nosed sports fans following the very public ousting of former coach Justin Langer.
Just months into his new gig, Cummins became the symbol of a petulant team throwing toys out of the cot to axe one of the most respected names in Aussie cricket.
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Many have also been quick to dismiss him as a temporary captain, with rumours swirling over whether he actually calls the shots in the field.
Surrounded by former skip Steve Smith and experienced vice David Warner, the image of Cummins – Australia’s first fast bowling captain in almost 70 years – directing play was clearly an uncomfortable experience for viewers.
His open stance on environmental issues hasn’t helped him with the more conservative side of Australia either.
But it’s always been hard to see the always-smiling skipper, who was thrust into the captaincy role following the fallout to Paine’s career-ending scandal, come under fire from the public.
Amid all the misguided chatter, politics and theatre of Australian cricket, Cummins has always put the success of the team first, which is exactly what Aussie skippers of yesteryear have been deified for.
England have been the favourites going into the series after putting the world on notice with a new attacking brand of Test cricket.
While they were on the back foot in the field at times, Australia didn’t need to change much, and I’ll wager Cummins had a big role in keeping the side composed as the Poms launched them across Birmingham.
At 1-0 heading to the second Test at Lord’s, he probably deserves an apology.
While it’s still a long way off, if Cummins pulls off a series win in England, he will have done something Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith failed to do over the past 22 years.
On day five at Edgbaston with a roaring Barmy Army on his back, Cummins smoked 44 not out alongside Nathan Lyon to deliver the sweetest of victories.
The poetic justice in him silencing Ollie Robinson, who had only a day earlier declared Australia had a weak tail-order, was the cherry on top.
His role with the ball also played a crucial role on day four, with himself and Lyon sending down 42.2 of the 66.2 overs in England’s second innings for combined figures of 8 for 143.
This all comes on the back of Australia burying India in the World Test Championship final a week earlier.
While treating the man in the top job as a whipping post might make for good pub-chat, Australia should stop whingeing and realise they have one of the greatest fast bowlers this century leading the side.
The second Ashes Test begins at 8pm on June 28.