7 November - Mumbai - Australia Captain Pat Cummins post-match press conference
[Reporter:]
Is that the greatest one-day innings you've seen by an Aussie? Do we see Glenn playing the next game considering the struggling?
[Pat Cummins:]
I think that's the greatest ODI innings. I mean I've ever seen it's probably the greatest ODI innings ever. Yeah, we're just chatting about it, all the players and we’ve decided it's one of those days where you just go, I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself. Yeah, I'm sure he’ll be fine. He was cramping but I think you saw out there how much he loves playing for Australia and do anything to play. So, I'm sure it'll be fine.
[Reporter:]
While batting out there in the middle, could you actually sense the allegiance of the crowd shifting towards you as the partnership sort of moved towards the win?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, I mean, the crowd's normally on Maxie’s side whenever he's playing over here. Yeah, you could hear it just getting louder and louder with each boundary and I think as he started not moving his feet and still scoring boundaries. You can hear them start going crazy. Yeah, awesome crowd today.
[Reporter:]
What was the conversation between the two of you when you came together in the 19th over, 91 for seven still more than 180 needed and towards the end of it the match as well when you refused to take singles there - the question was still run a ball but what was the conversation like?
[Pat Cummins:]
Initially when I walked out there we thought the mystery spinners were the biggest trouble. The ball was still spinning a little bit and they were bowling really well. For me it was just basically hanging in there. Maxie was still scoring quite freely. We knew it's the kind of wicket that gets easier. Didn't really feel like run rate was ever going to be an issue with Maxie still at the crease. So, for me it was just about basically survival and just hope we get a look at some of the other bowlers that maybe that wicket doesn't suit as much. So, it was a pretty simple plan. Didn't look too far ahead. I think Maxie might be a bit different. I think he's always plotting his way to a win. So, I think even 200 runs out, he was kind of mapping out how he was going to do it. I was just trying to survive.
And then, yeah, towards the end, he was obviously cramping. So, he tried to take one run and was almost stretched off. So, after that, I just said, we'll both agree, just stay down there. And again, never felt like run rate was an issue when he's at the crease.
[Reporter:]
You've known for a long time that Glenn is a freak but just you spoke about how we will speak about the day we were there when Maxwell did what he did - but you were at the other end and can you just take us through what you were experiencing? There were times you just dropped your bat and you just stood there clapping. Did you feel like you were in the audience as well?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, it's just a one-man show. It's just like, it looks so easy. I'm up the other end and I don't see any gaps in the field I don't see where I'm going to score a boundary and it seems like every time, he sees that he just runs away for four.
Yeah, he still can't move and still manages to hit a six of the third man with reverse – he’s a freak, he hits into different areas, again, he makes it look so easy. And when you're up against someone like that as a bowler, you just, you don't have many options.
[Reporter:]
When Maxie went down, it looked like you were going to have to bury him on the spot and the physio came out and there was a fair bit of conversation going on. Zamps was actually on the boundary waiting to come out was there discussion then about him having to go off that he just couldn't move or was it always going to be a stay on job?
[Pat Cummins:]
Ah, yeah, I thought he was going off. So, I kind of signalled to Zamps to get down here cause yeah, he literally couldn't move and then I think the physio was out there obviously and he kind of convinced Maxie that if he came off, it might be worse off. So, try and hang out there, stand up, and that's probably your best bet. Because once you go off it's that much cramp but there's no guarantee you're going to get back out there.
[Reporter:]
At what point did you actually think you could win it? I saw you when you went out there like it's net run rate improvement - Like I know you said Maxie’s a different beast, but was there a point or a shot where you thought we're actually a chance here?
[Pat Cummins:]
When I went out there, I thought if we can somehow scratch the 200, our net run rate should be pretty good for the semis. When Maxi got his 100, I kind of thought, wow, we're within 120 or something. And then I still thought, no way. So, I reckon it wasn't until the spinners were just about done and there was maybe 40 off 40 or something where I thought okay even if Maxie gets out here, I reckon the other guys can get it done.
But yeah, literally within the last 20 minutes was about the only time.
[Reporter:]
Just on that last 20 minutes or so, was there any moment where you thought to yourself that this guy is completely gone? Maybe I might have started hitting a few shots, or were you always just confident that it's him and only him?
[Pat Cummins:]
I couldn't get on strike.
Yeah, again I think once the spin bowlers were off, I felt pretty confident in Zamps if he came in or whatever. But, yeah, Maxie just played it beautifully. He got a few boundaries each over and then got himself down the other end. So, I was kind of yeah ready to start having a bit of a go if needed but just run rate always felt under control and Max, he was just doing it with such control.
[Reporter:]
Clearly Glenn's not well enough to be here. Can you paint a bit of a picture as to what his physical condition is like after that?
[Pat Cummins:]
He's happy. Just cramp. I think that's the main thing. I think his back was cramping pretty early on. Felt tight and then just hamstrings, calves. For one over he said his toe was gone. So, I'm sure it will be fine, plenty of hydration, he'll be in the ice bath I'm sure, but I'm sure you'll be very satisfied and it will be okay.
[Reporter:]
Pat, at 91-7 did you believe that you would win this game? And going by how Maxwell played in the later half, without his foot movement and still got the ball sending to all parts of the ground, wherever he wanted. So how would you describe that, that kind of a batting?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, again, I kind of put myself in the bowler's shoes and think what are your options here. And when someone's running hot like that, and it's a good wicket, especially for pace bowlers, you don't have much you can do really, he just creates such angles you know even outside off he can get it over fine legs somehow, he's as good hitting straight as anyone else in the world. It's just incredible the amount of control and how cleanly he hits it for the amount of different shots he has. So, you just sit there and admire it. And it looks so easy. And he hits a four, and you're like, oh, of course he'd hit a four. But you try and do it yourself and you have no chance.
[Reporter:]
How would you describe today's crowd support for both the teams?
[Pat Cummins:]
Crowd was great yeah, I thought it was a great match. They were up and about for most of it and then obviously shifted towards Maxie, who's always a fan favourite over here.
[Reporter:]
You didn't start the World Cup in a good fashion, like lost two matches. Do you say there is much peace of mind now heading towards Pune, knowing that you already qualified for the semi-final, with one match to go?
[Pat Cummins:]
Yeah, absolutely. And probably more so just really happy with how we're playing, the style we're playing. I mean, today was a bit of an outlier, Maxie dragged us out of that one, but like with the bat we've been aggressive, we've taken the games on, we're really putting the pressure back onto the opposition. So yeah, everything's trending really well after a bit of a slow start. I still don't think we've put a complete game together.
So, yeah, the vibe in the group's awesome. Found a way to win this one. So, yeah, all things are looking pretty good for the semis.