FEBRUARY represented one of Pat Cummins\u2019 toughest months in cricket.<\/p>\n
Widely seen as the golden boy of Australian cricket for his exploits on the field and his demeanour off it, Cummins’ appointment to the captaincy after the Tim Paine scandal was met with plenty of praise.<\/p>\n
He proceeded to take the most wickets in the Ashes, despite missing the second test, and would have been on top of the world after retaining the coveted trophy in a four-one series triumph.<\/p>\n
However, Justin Langer\u2019s resignation earlier this month brought about previously unseen criticism of Cummins and his role in the coach\u2019s exit, the 28-year-old needing to go on the defensive for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n
He was credited with a strong press conference in the wake of Langer\u2019s exit, and Cummins said he tried not to let the criticism get to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was okay, I felt for Justin as much as anyone else, but I knew when I became captain, I was going to cop it for different things,\u201d he told SEN 1170 Breakfast<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf anything, it kind of reminded me I\u2019ve got to look after the team and do what\u2019s best for Australian cricket.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the noise and things that might come with it come from a good place, but I can\u2019t let it affect me too much.\u201d<\/p>\n The criticism of Cummins and teammates revolved around the belief that Langer\u2019s exit was player-driven, something no party is yet to fully deny.<\/p>\n The former opener\u2019s resignation letter acknowledged he loved his job, and his success in recent months should have guaranteed a contract extension greater than the six-month deal he was offered.<\/p>\n Shane Warne blamed the \u201cNSW mafia\u201d behind forcing Langer out, however Cummins refuted suggestions the players were the sole reason.<\/p>\n \u201cCertainly our feedback was heard, as I think it should be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut to say that we are decision-makers is quite far from the truth. It\u2019s a high-performance setup, there\u2019s the board that makes decisions, so of course, people within the environment get consulted, that includes senior players, staff members, which I think has always been the case.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s the right way to do things, it\u2019s healthy. Nothing untoward, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew McDonald has taken over in the interim role and has earned praise from Aaron Finch and Scott Boland for his impacts on the group.<\/p>\n Cummins added his appraisal to that of his teammates\u2019 and cleared up the murky situation surrounding the timeline of appointing the new coach.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s certainly capable [to be the full-time coach], for sure,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201c[It’s] certainly not my decision, I think they\u2019ll run a process probably after this series, so we\u2019ll see how he goes.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s been fantastic, he\u2019s widely respected and experienced, so if he puts his hand up I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll take a close look at him.\u201d<\/p>\n Cummins and McDonald will lead Australia on a historic tour of Pakistan next month, the first time Australia has toured the Asian nation since 1998.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n