Why Cummins believes the Ashes is still Australia’s biggest rivalry

AUSTRALIAN cricket captain Pat Cummins still believes the Ashes trumps all other bilateral series despite an ever-growing rivalry between Australia and India.

Cummins led Australia to its first Border-Gavaskar trophy win in a decade with a 3-1 series win during the 2024-25 summer.

Outside of the last two tours to England, the Poms have failed to be competitive on Australian shores, with their last victory in Australia in 2011.

Cummins said the history surrounding the Ashes was too big to ignore.

“It was a wonderful summer that I won’t forget for a while,” Cummins told SEN 1170 Breakfast.

“In terms of competitiveness, India have won the last couple of series out here whereas with England, we have been pretty dominant at home.

“This summer did feel like it was the number one and number two-ranked Test sides battling each other out. From that point of view, it did feel bigger than normal.

“However, if you lose an Ashes at home, it feels like the world is coming to an end. In that sense, it’s still bigger.

“The feeling around this whole summer was unreal though with a packed out Boxing Day and the SCG being sold out across all three days.

“It was a great feeling.”

Cummins is currently a spectator for Australia’s 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, which began in successful fashion with a win over England. Australia chased down 352 with five wickets and 15 balls in hand.

An unbeaten 120 off 86 deliveries by Josh Inglis sealed the highest-ever successful run chase in an ICC tournament.

Australia has selected a new-look and inexperienced squad with Australia’s fast bowling trio of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc all unavailable.

“It’s been good in the last couple of years in white ball cricket when the three of us have missed games,” Cummins said.

“We now have the likes of Spencer Johnson, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshius and Nathan Ellis.

“They’ve had a taste of playing for Australia, been on a lot of tours and are absolutely ready to stand up.

“They can play international cricket and it shows we have a lot of depth that we can get a good win over a strong side like England.”

BY SEN/CHARLIES GOODSIR