300 Test Wickets: Captain Cummins Produces A Stunning Spell For The Ages

‘What you can do, I can do better’ is definitely not what Pat Cummins said to Kagiso Rabada before the start of play today, but he ended up doing just that as the Australian skipper produced a stunning spell for the ages, registering the best-ever figures by any bowler in the final of an ICC event. 

Cummins finished with 6/28 off 18.1 overs as Australia bowled South Africa out for 138 to take a potentially match-defining 74-run lead at Lord’s. In the process, Cummins also brought up 300 Test wickets, becoming the eighth Australian player to do so.

At 300-wicket mark, Cummins now has a strike rate of 45.70 - which is the fourth-best among all bowlers in history.

Best bowling strike rate in Test history (min 300 wickets)

39.1 - Kagiso Rabada

42.3 - Dale Steyn

43.4- Waqar Younis

45.7 - Pat Cummins

Six South African wickets fell on the day, and Cummins took five of them. He began by breaking the all-important 64-run stand between Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham, dismissing the South African captain caught at cover. 

And then, post lunch, Cummins ran through the South African batting line-up, as from 126/5, the Proteas folded for 138 all-out, with the Australia skipper taking four of the five wickets in the second session.

He got Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen in the space of three balls, and then delivered the knockout blow by sending the set David Bedingham packing three overs later. He then got to 300 wickets and completed his six-fer by dismissing Rabada. 

In the process, Cummins shattered several bowling records. Here are a few notable ones:

Best figures for a captain at Lord's in Tests

6/28 - Pat Cummins vs SA, 2025

6/101 - Bob Willis vs IND, 1982

5/35 - Gubby Allen vs IND, 1936

5/43 - Gubby Allen vs IND, 1936

5/69 - Daniel Vettori vs ENG, 2008

Best figures in an ICC Tournament Final

6/28 - Pat Cummins vs SA, (ICC WTC 2025 Final)

5/30 - Jacques Kallis vs WI, (ICC Champions Trophy 1998 Final)

5/31 - Kyle Jamieson vs IND, Southampton, (ICC WTC 2021 Final)

5/38 - Joel Garner vs ENG, Lord's, (ICC CWC 1979 Final)

5/48 - Gary Gilmour vs WI, Lord's (ICC CWC 1975 Final)

Best figures in ICC WTC Final

6/28 - Pat Cummins vs SA, Lord's, 2025

5/31 - Kyle Jamieson vs IND, Southampton, 2021

5/51 - Kagiso Rabada vs AUS, Lord's, 2025

4/41 - Nathan Lyon vs IND, The Oval, 2023

4/48 - Tim Southee vs IND, Southampton, 2021

Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

12 - Imran Khan (Pakistan)

9 - Pat Cummins (Australia)

9 - Richie Benaud (Australia)

8 - Bishan Singh Bedi (India)