December 10, 2024: Former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist has showered praise on Pat Cummins for his remarkable performance in the Adelaide Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against India. Gilchrist, speaking on Fox Cricket’s The Follow-on podcast, described Cummins as “outstanding” after his match-winning efforts helped Australia level the series 1-1 with a dominant 10-wicket victory.
Cummins was in sublime form, taking seven wickets in the match and leading from the front as the Aussie team bounced back from a disappointing defeat in Perth. Gilchrist noted that Cummins’ performance in Adelaide was a significant improvement, suggesting that he seemed to have undergone a “grease and oil change” following the setback in Perth. “He was purring by the end of it,” Gilchrist said, adding that it was “terrific to watch” the Australian captain regain his rhythm and intensity.
One of the key observations Gilchrist made was the aggression in Cummins’ celebrations after each wicket. He pointed out that the skipper seemed to channel the frustration and disappointment from the Perth defeat into his performance, with his celebrations becoming progressively more intense after every breakthrough. “You could see just through his celebrations that every wicket he took, he was more aggressive,” said Gilchrist.
Gilchrist went on to reflect that the more intense celebrations weren’t about losing control but rather showed how much the players, particularly Cummins, had been stung by the criticism following the Perth defeat. He emphasized that it was clear from their reactions that the team was eager to prove a point and get back to the level of cricket they know they are capable of playing. “It showed you what it meant to them,” Gilchrist added. “They knew that they were back at the level they want to play their cricket.”
Cummins’ leadership and individual brilliance were crucial in Australia’s resounding victory in Adelaide, and Gilchrist’s comments only underline the significance of the performance in the context of the series.
