The Boss of big moments: Cummins takes centre stage

Not just with the ball as one of the finest bowlers of his era. Or as a captain in a month in which Australia have already claimed the World Test Championship.

But remarkably, with the bat. And most notably, on the biggest of occasions.

In Australia's two biggest run-chases of the past 20 years, Cummins has sealed both wins with boundaries.

The first came on his debut and with a target of 310 in South Africa in 2011, the fresh-faced teenager clubbing Imran Tahir for four to seal a two-wicket victory after bagging 6-49 with the ball himself.

The second arrived on Tuesday, in his first Test as captain in an Ashes match in England.

After arriving at the wicket with the tourists at 7-209 and 72 still required, Cummins willed, slashed and eventually powered Australia to victory at Edgbaston.

"I actually did think back to that debut," Cummins said.

"At one stage batting out there with Nathan I was thinking back to when he was in the sheds praying in my debut match."

Cummins' batting since taking the captaincy has been poor by his standards, averaging 13.52 before this match.

But he chose the right moment to stand up.

The 30-year-old made a point of going after Joe Root, deciding when facing the spinner it was a 'now-or-never' moment.

He took 14 off one over from the former England captain, hitting two sixes and shifting the momentum back in Australia's favour.

Before that over, the tourists looked shot. After it, there was hope.

With England setting their field back to encourage Cummins to take the single and put Nathan Lyon on strike, the skipper obliged time and time again.

The approach whittled down the required runs, and released the pressure enough for Cummins to smash the odd ball through the offside and lead Australia to victory.

"It felt like the scoreboard wasn't ticking over, 70 felt a long way away," Cummins said of that decisive Root over.

"Joe as an offspinner to me felt like my best chance to score some runs. If the ball is in my area, I am just going to go for it.

"Once we got a little closer, you felt like you could get two or three an over without taking any risks."

Cummins and his dad attended a Bruce Springsteen concert after day one of this Test.

He ended it bossing England around, proving he remains the man for the biggest stage.

Australian Associated Press