INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: Former Australia pacer Jason Gillespie lauded Aussie captain Pat Cummins for his on-field tactics, execution and bonhomie with
Gillespie, a veteran of 71 Tests, 97 ODIs and 1 T20I, with more than 400 international wickets under his belt, also compared the captaincy
style of Cummins with that of Aussie great Mark Taylor.Interestingly, Cummins was criticised by many for what they felt were' 'defensive'
tactics in the initial stages of the first Ashes Test."I thought his (Cummins's) captaincy was fantastic at Edgbaston
I was a little bit critical of the tactics of the defensive fields early in the game, but as the game went on Pat Cummins was very good
He comes across to me as very much a player's captain
He very much cares for the person, not just the actual game of cricket, being out on the field
It seems it's a more holistic style of leadership," Gillespie told TimesofIndia.com in an interview.Pat Cummins (AFP Photo)After captaining
Australia to a resounding World Test Championship 2021-2023 title, by beating the Rohit Sharma-led India by a huge margin of 209 runs,
Cummins led from the front and helped Australia take a 1-0 lead in the ongoing five-match Ashes Test series.Cummins' men won the first Ashes
Test by 2 wickets and the Australian skipper played a vital role in his team's win.The 30-year-old claimed four wickets in the England
second innings and then shared a match-winning ninth-wicket partnership with Nathan Lyon in the last hour of the final day to take Australia
across the line in Birmingham to leave the Ben Stokes-led side licking their wounds.Pat Cummins with teammate Nathan Lyon (Getty
Images)Cummins was involved in an unbeaten 55-run stand with Lyon for the ninth wicket."He (Cummins) will be very caring off the field
He'll be checking in with all his players
He's a very empathetic captain
He has a lot of empathy for his players," Gillespie further told TimesofIndia.com
"I compare him favourably with someone like Mark Taylor
Steve Waugh was also very empathetic with players
But yes, if I have to pick one, I'm probably thinking of Mark Taylor
Pat Cummins is similar to Mark Taylor in terms of leadership and captaincy," Gillespie said.Australia are currently playing the second Ashes
Test at the Lord's.Watch the LIVE coverage of England vs Australia 2023 (The Ashes) on Sony Sports network
