December 17, 2024: Pat Cummins’ achievement of overtaking cricket legends Garfield Sobers and Daniel Vettori to become the player with the third-highest wickets as a Test captain is a remarkable milestone in his career. His performance during the third Test against India at Brisbane, where he dismantled the Indian middle-order, shows not only his skill but also his growing influence as a leader on the field.
Cummins’ 119 wickets as captain have now placed him just behind Australian icon Richie Benaud (138 wickets) and Pakistan’s Imran Khan (187 wickets). What’s particularly impressive about Cummins’ feat is how quickly he has climbed the ranks. His ability to produce consistent breakthroughs, particularly in a high-pressure series like the one against India, speaks volumes about his leadership and bowling prowess.
His ruthless attack on India’s middle-order—removing key players like Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ravindra Jadeja—demonstrates his mastery of the game. Cummins has made an indelible mark in Test cricket and is likely to keep climbing the ranks in the years to come, further cementing his place in the annals of Australian cricket history.