WTC 2025 Final: Pat Cummins sends records tumbling on Day 2, equals Imran Khan with massive…
Australia captain Pat Cummins celebrates after claiming a five-wicket haul on Day 2 of WTC 2025 Final at Lord's. (Photo: AP)
Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins sent records tumbling on another action packed day in the WTC 2025 final against South Africa at Lord's. Aussies ended the second day at 144 for 8 with an overall lead of 218 after Cummins picked up a six-wicket haul to power the defending champions to a 74-run first innings lead.
Cummins claimed 4 wickets for 4 runs immediately after the lunch break on Day 2 of the WTC 2024 final to bundle out the Proteas for 138 in reply to his side's 212-run first innings total. The Australian captain's figures of 6/28 in 18.1 overs are the best-ever by any Test captain at Lord's surpassing England's late Bob Willis.
Then Aussies pacer also became the eighth player for Australia and overall the 40th to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket. The 32-year-old is the fifth-fastest to reach there in terms of balls bowled.
Cummins has claimed 300 Test scalps in 13,725 balls, surpassing West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall by three deliveries. The Australian captain's bowling strike-rate of 45.75 is the best by an Aussie seamer.
Cummins also levelled with former Pakistan captain Imran Khan to become the joint 10th fastest to complete 300 wickets, reaching the milestone in 68 Test matches. Cummins has grabbed 136 wickets as the captain of the Baggy Greens. Only Imran has a better record with 187 wickets among the pace bowling skippers.
'Cummins does everything right — he challenges the off stump, uses the slope, and targets the top of the stumps, making batters play constantly. He now has over 300 Test wickets despite not bowling for five and a half years due to injury. That's extraordinary,' JioHotstar expert and former Australia opener Matthew Hayden said.
'The trio of Hazlewood, Cummins, and Starc might just be Australia's best-ever pace attack—even better than McGrath, Gillespie, and Lee—because they've bowled more together, in more combinations. Add Nathan Lyon to the mix, and it's an 'awesome foursome.' Australia did well to pull ahead despite pressure. South Africa fought back hard, making this a seesaw contest. It's been a fantastic Test match so far, and Day 3 promises more drama,' Hayden added.
With the ball dominating so far, the #WTC25 Final is perfectly poised heading into Day 3 – a day that could decide it all 👊🏏#TeamAustralia skipper #PatCummins breaks down the team's approach & key strategies after the fast moving Day 2. #WTCFinal 👉#SAvAUS | Day 3, FRI,… pic.twitter.com/kKqprDwJbv
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 13, 2025
The Australian captain is only the second player from his nation to clinch 200 wickets in WTC history – he is the only pacer in the list with 206 wickets at 22.11 runs apiece.
Cummins also has the best average by an Australian pacer in a calendar year, claiming more than 50 wickets. In 2019, he averaged 20.13 for his 59 wickets, bettering Dennis Lillee's feat in 1981.
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