User:TripleRoryFan/sandbox/Pat Cummins with the Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2017–18

Pat Cummins played for the Australian cricket team on their tour of South Africa in early 2018.

Background
Cummins' career before the 2017–18 season had been ravaged by injury, so despite making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2011 he had only played five Test matches before the home summer. Cummins played in the 2017–18 Ashes series, his first home Test series, which Australia won 4-0 against England, and he was Australia's most successful bowler with 23 wickets across the five-Test series, more than teammates Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, and was named the man of the match for the final Test. Surviving through the series unscathed by injury was a big step for Cummins' development and placed him in good form ahead of the South Africa tour. In addition to his bowling feats, Cummins was in good form with the bat, having averaged over 40 during the Ashes.

Tour match against South Africa A
Australia bowled first in their only tour match against South Africa A, and Cummins had the best bowling figures for Australia. Despite a promising effort from South Africa A, Cummins took 4/32 from 11 overs, including taking three wickets within the space of 10 balls to dismiss the home side's tailenders.

In Australia's first batting innings of the match he was promoted to bat ahead of teammate Mitchell Starc for the first time, showing that captain Steve Smith had faith in his batting abilities, and he was the only player to reach a half-century, finishing the innings unbeaten on 59. This performance, in addition to being only his second first-class half-century, was a crucial part of Australia's innings and gave them a 109-run lead. With this Cummins continued to prove himself as a competent batsman in addition to his bowling skills, making him a potential all-rounder for Australia.