Mitchell Starc goes public with massive secret about Pat Cummins that wasn't widely known

Pat Cummins looked as comfortable as ever at the crease as he helped lift Australia to a win over Pakistan at the MCG on Monday night, and his upturn in recent runs with the bat is no coincidence. Cummins saved Australia from what would have been an embarrassing loss, guiding the side to a two-wicket win in his first ODI since last year's World Cup final triumph.

Cummins came in with Australia reeling at 7-155 chasing just 204 and just as he did during last year's World Cup in India, showed he is more than just a bowler. On Monday night he scored an unbeaten 32 off 31 balls to steer Australia to victory with 99 balls to spare.

But he was still pipped for man of the match honours by his fast-bowling teammate Mitchell Starc, who shone with the ball finishing with figures of 3-33. And after the game Starc let slip a detail about Cummins' vast batting improvement that wasn't common knowledge. The 34-year-old revealed his teammate underwent corrective eye surgery earlier in the year and that has had a part to play in his recent success with bat in hand.

“Now that he has got his eyes fixed, we’ve been arguing for a couple of years that he should be batting above me,” Starc said. “So he’s cemented that, I hope. It was a fantastic way for him to bring it home. Obviously, the intent at the start from the guys was what we were after. We obviously (lost) a few too many wickets, but it was a positive start to the summer."

When asked to clarify on Cummins’ improved vision, Starc turned to the Australian team’s communication chief and asked: “Is that not common knowledge?” The Aussie quick then suggested the media should "maybe ask him" about it.

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Pat Cummins in career-best batting form

The 31-year-old had corrective eye surgery earlier this year and since then hasn't been dismissed in ODI cricket. In Cummins' last eight innings dating back to the start of the 2023 World Cup in India, he has been dismissed just three times, while adding 145 runs as a lower-order batter, with his runs proving incredibly valuable.

He has also now made match-winning knocks with the bat during run-chases in two Tests and three ODIs over the last 18 months. "There were a few comments in the dugout – a few of the batters were making comments – about the positions he has been in and the way he has been hitting the ball, he looked like he had more time than he may have in the past," Starc said. "Whether he has been working on that in private, I don’t know. But it was certainly very much appreciated tonight from the group.”

Mitchell Starc breaks Brett Lee's record with 100th ODI wicket

Meanwhile against Pakistan Starc reached 100 wickets in ODIs faster than any other Australian, breaking Brett Lee's long-standing record. Starc removed both openers - Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique - to set the tone for Australia in Melbourne.

He then dismissed Shaheen Shah Afridi to bring up his 100th wicket in his 54th match - one faster than Lee. In doing so Starc joined Lee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the only Aussies to reach the milestone.