Pat Cummins has been named the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year for 2023 and awarded the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy.
The Australian team has risen to new heights under Cummins' leadership, which began in late 2021.
How did 2023 pan out for Pat Cummins?
Despite facing challenges early in the year with a loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, the 30-year-old captain guided his team to a series of remarkable victories. The team's resilience was evident as they secured a decisive win over India in the World Test Championship Final at The Oval.
They extended their winning streak by retaining the Ashes in England and concluded the year with a historic victory at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. In a dramatic turnaround, they secured their sixth title by winning nine consecutive matches after an initial two-game setback.
Cummins not only showcased his skills as a strategic leader but also as a formidable all-rounder. His contributions played a crucial role in Test matches, consistently strengthening Australia's pace attack and delivering crucial performances with the bat.
The competition for the ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year award was intense, with Cummins surpassing fellow Australian Travis Head and Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. Cummins' outstanding individual record for the year includes amassing 422 runs and taking 59 wickets in 24 matches. He concluded the year with a notable 10-wicket haul against Pakistan.
This is right up there: Pat Cummins on being named ICC cricketer of the year
Cummins expressed his amazement at winning the award in an interview with the ICC. He stated that the accolade ranks high among the achievements in his career.
"It's been a huge honour. It's been a big year. With lots of wonderful team success and to get this individual honour is huge. Pretty amazed by it."
"I think this is right up there. We's a team sport where we play for kind of team wins and you're going after tournaments and trophies together. But in terms of an individual accolade, I think it's right up there and really special," said Cummins.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
