Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has told his players to just be themselves instead of resorting to sledging just because “it might have been done like that in the past.”

Ever since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Australia’s cricketing culture has undergone a serious review for its win-at-all-cost approach in the past. Not a single untoward incident has been witnessed in the ongoing Ashes series, for which Cummins credited his teammates.

Cummins said his approach to leadership is quite similar to England’s Eoin Morgan.

West Indies legend Clive Lloyd (right) and England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan after receiving their Knighthood and CBE, respectively, for services to cricket at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The awards were announced in 2019 but the ceremony was delayed because of the pandemic. Getty Images

“I look at different leaders and someone like Eoin Morgan. I like his outlook on captaincy and how he brings the team together. I have worked with Eoin in the IPL for the last couple of years and we have very similar outlooks on life,” Cummins was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“I keep encouraging all of our players to be themselves. They do not have to try to impress anyone or sledge just because it might have been done like that in the past. Just be themselves.”