Cummins praises 'gutsy' teammates in MCG victory

Australia skipper Pat Cummins lauded his teammates Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green for their courage and determination as the injured pair played through pain to help their side complete a series-sealing win over South Africa on Thursday, December 29. 

Star pacer Mitchell Starc splintered a tendon in the middle finger of his main hand with which he bowls. The mishap happened on Day 1 of the second Test in Melbourne. In spite of that, he bowled in full swing and took a wicket on day four as Australia won by an innings and 182 runs. 

All-rounder Cameron Green retired hurt as his index finger was broken due to delivery by Anrich Nortje but made a comeback to the cease and knocked an unbeaten 51, which added to his achievement of a five-wicket haul earlier. 

"(It's) probably a good time to mention all the incredible achievements this week. Starcy with a finger that's going to put him out for a few weeks, to have the bravery to go out and do that," Cummins told journalists.

"Cam Green, the same, 'guts-ing' it out for us.

"We saw Steve Smith and Davey (Warner) on day two in 38 degrees -- gutsy, gutsy innings.”

"It just speaks volumes for the team at the moment. Everyone would do anything for each other so we're in a really good place."

The Boxing Day Test victory gave the Kangaroos an unassailable 2-0 lead with another test match remaining in Sydney, hence strengthening the top slot in the World Test Championship table. 

It also marked an exceptionally good year for Australia in Test Cricket, with the Cummins’s side winning in seven out of ten matches, including a series win in Pakistan. 

After Sydney, the Aussies will now swap their focus on the tour of India in February followed by the Ashes in England.

With veteran opener David Warner being in doubt after his injury stint after a brilliant double-century in the Melbourne test, the exhausted squad still managed to deal with the Proteas. Cummins expressed he was indeed leading a special Australian team. 

"Yeah, probably the best Test team I've played in, just in terms of how well settled everyone is, how well everyone knows their gameplan," he stated.

"In terms of captaining I don't feel like I have to do much at all. Everyone looks after themselves. You just kind of make sure the buses are on time -- which the team manager does.”

"It's just in a really sweet spot at the moment. We know it's not going to stay like this forever. But I think we can just all kind of sit back and appreciate the place that we are in at the moment because it's really special.”

"We're having a hell of a lot of fun as well doing it together with some of our best mates."