Cummins, the pace spearhead

World's Top Bowlers Since Cummins Became Skipper

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: Knack for wickets, unparalleled control and a never-say-die attitude for which Glenn McGrath will be revered as possibly the greatest Australian fast bowler in the last four decades. Among Australia's illustrious captains, few could match the aura and achievements of Steve Waugh.

Pat Cummins, though, is getting there almost unnoticed, one season at a time. In the three years since he was appointed to the job - to the Test team first in November 2021 - Cummins has won the Ashes, the World Test Championship final, the ODI World Cup, and now the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Not highlighted enough is also an equally telling phase of fast bowling as skipper where Cummins has taken 130 Test wickets at an average of 23.50. Only off-spinner Nathan Lyon has taken more wickets (140) in this phase.

Of the seven bowlers to take more than 100 wickets in the period, only R Ashwin (22.15), Kagiso Rabada (20.58) and Jasprit Bumrah (16.10) have better averages.

To Bumrah's record-equalling tally of 32 wickets (for an Indian fast bowler) this series, Cummins flaunts 25 wickets but with the caveat of having bowled in all five Tests. No other fast bowler barring Mitchell Starc (33) has featured in as many Tests as Cummins in the last three years.

Interestingly, Windies all-rounder Jason Holder is the only other pace bowler - though not as quick as Cummins - to lead in more consecutive Tests (21) than Cummins (18) in the last two decades.