Pat Cummins has been at the forefront of Australia’s cricketing dominance in recent years, playing a pivotal role as both a fast bowler and a captain. Known for his lethal pace and composure with the bat when the team needs him the most, Cummins has become an integral figure in Australia’s cricketing success across formats. With 67 Tests to his name, the 31-year-old has claimed an impressive 294 wickets at an average of around 22, with a strike rate of 46. Cummins has taken 73 wickets in the 2023-25 WTC cycle, trailing only Jasprit Bumrah (77 wickets) but with the possibility of playing three more matches to close the gap.
| Most Wickets in WTC 2023-25 | |||
| Player | Wickets | Matches | SR |
| Bumrah | 77 | 15 | 30.6 |
| Cummins | 73 | 17 | 43.4 |
| Starc | 66 | 16 | 43.3 |
Milestones and Achievements in the World Test Championship (WTC)
One of the major highlights of Cummins’ career came with his recent achievement of completing 200 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC). Not only did he retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) with a 3-1 series victory over India, but he also became the first bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in WTC history.
| Most Wickets in WTC | |||
| Player | Wickets | Matches | Avg |
| Cummins | 200 | 47 | 22.63 |
| Lyon | 196 | 48 | 27.16 |
| Ashwin | 195 | 41 | 21.49 |
Leading Australia to Glory:
As a captain, Cummins has etched his name in the history books. He is the only captain to have led his team in two WTC finals. The first final saw Australia defeat India, and now, they are set to face South Africa at Lord’s in June 2025. Under his leadership, Australia has enjoyed remarkable success across formats. They won the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, retained the Ashes in England in 2023, and claimed the 2021-23 WTC title by defeating India.
Cummins’ Impact with the Ball and as a Leader
Under Cummins’ captaincy, Australia has achieved significant milestones. He has picked up 130 Test wickets as captain, ranking third on the all-time list behind cricket legends Imran Khan (187) and Richie Benaud (138). Furthermore, he became the first-ever bowler to pick 200 WTC wickets, solidifying his dominance in the format.
| Most Wickets For Australia as Captain | |||
| Player | Wickets | Matches | Avg |
| Cummins | 154 | 50 | 24.89 |
| Benaud | 138 | 28 | 27.16 |
| Border | 80 | 271 | 21.49 |
A Captain’s Legacy of Triumph and Dominance
As captain, Cummins also achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first Australian to take 150 international wickets as a captain. Overall, he has claimed 154 wickets in 50 matches as captain, with Australia winning 33 of those games, losing just 11, and drawing 6. His leadership has been instrumental in Australia’s ascent to the top of world cricket.
| Matches Played | Won | Lost | Draw | Win% |
| 50 | 33 | 11 | 6 | 66 |
Conclusion: A Mark of Greatness in the Making
Pat Cummins’ contributions to Australian cricket cannot be overstated. His leadership, both with the ball and off the field, has driven Australia to unprecedented success in recent years. With a growing list of records and milestones, Cummins has firmly established himself as one of the most influential figures in world cricket. As he continues to lead Australia to new heights, his legacy is one that will be remembered for years to come.
Image Courtesy: Getty Image