Pat Cummins, the ABC's new woke hero: Broadcaster allows World Cup-winning captain to dodge climate change hypocrisy questions in fawning interview

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has lashed out at criticism he's a 'woke far left catastrophist clown' as he doubled down on his left-leaning views and defiantly said he would not 'pander to a loud minority'.

It's been a year since the high profile climate crusader sparked a public outcry when he reportedly raised concerns about Cricket's Australia $40million sponsorship deal with Alinta Energy.

Critics have pointed out Cummins had been pictured flying first class and driving one of the world's highest polluting luxury vehicles - a Range Rover - about the same time.

Cummins also made headlines when he led Aussies teammates in taking the knee during the Black Lives Matter movement during their 2021 West Indies tour and publicly supported the Indigenous Voice to Parliament before the referendum failed in October.

Cummins wasn't asked directly by host Sarah Ferguson who he explained the contradiction of him pushing for climate change action while flying first class and driving a gas-guzzling Range Rover. Instead she posed a question asking whether he was 'woke' in a soft interview on ABC'S 7.30 on Tuesday.

Instead, he was asked if the backlash made him regret being so outspoken on contentious issues or whether it simply was water off a duck's back.

'It definitely makes you stop and think if what you're doing and how you're going about it is the right way,' Cummins said.

'It either makes you change or if anything it probably has emboldened some of my views that this is a good thing.

'You know, if I don't stay strong in this and I pander to a loud minority, that's not a good thing.'

Ferguson also asked if Cummins considered himself as a 'leader for our times', as described by former Australian Wallaby Test star turned outspoken climate activist and independent Senator David Pocock.

'I contacted David Pocock this morning to ask him about you, obviously another sporting great, and someone you've worked with on climate change initiatives,' Ferguson began.

'So I asked him what his view of you was this he said this, he said, 'He is a leader for the times. He manages to be a great bloke under a huge amount of pressure.

'It should give Australians a bit of extra pride to have him representing Australia.

A humbled Cummins replied: 'It's probably not for me to say.'

'I just try and be myself everyday and enjoy the role of working with other people and trying to bring the best out of them.

Last year, Cummins reportedly raised 'ethical objections' about Alinta Energy's sponsorship for the cricket team over its carbon pollution. 

Cummins once featured in a TV advertising campaign for the brand's call centres, where he was seen answering a phone call doing yoga.

Critics of the captain include 2GB broadcaster Ben Fordham and former federal opposition leader Mark Latham led the backlash when Cummins distanced himself from his team's major sponsor.

But Cummins said last night that he stood by his strong views on the environment and climate change.

'I think that in becoming an adult, you start forming your views on how you see the world differently to how you were as a kid and you start thinking for yourself,' Cummins said.

'Maybe it's kind of more prevalent when you're a captain and you're more in the public eye but I don't think it's anything new. 

'I think there's always issues in the world. There always have been. It's just perhaps these issues and how they're dealt with a little differently to how they were 20, 30, 40 years ago.'

Cummins was also asked whether he'd consider going into politics post-retirement like his good mate Pocock.

'I mean, you never say never but probably not. No. I'll leave that to David and lots of other wonderful people,' he said.

Elsewhere in the interview, Cummins was asked about Australia's victorious World Cup campaign where they beat tournament hosts and red hot favourites India in the final.

He defended his tactic to not bat first after winning the toss, a gamble that shocked many. 

'There's lots of conventional wisdom which doesn't really line up with results,' Cummins explained.

'I think the last five ODI finals have been won by the team bowling first, same in the T20 World Cup finals.

'I went in with a gut feeling that it was going to be bit of a tricky wicket during the day so I put the pressure on them to set whatever total and backed ourselves to chase it down when the wicket's a little better at night.'

Cummins also spoke about his late mum Maria who lost her battle with breast cancer earlier this year.

'I think about her everyday and she's a huge part of who I am,' he said.

'I'm hoping and I'm sure she would have been really proud.'