At just 18 years old, Pat Cummins showcased an outstanding all-round performance during his Test debut in South Africa in 2011, announcing his arrival on the big stage with a remarkable blend of skill, leadership, and enduring impact in Australian cricket.
Unveiling his match-winning spectacle in Johannesburg marked the beginning of Cummins' journey as a cornerstone figure in Australia's illustrious cricketing history. His exceptional contributions with the ball, and occasionally with the bat, received due recognition, ultimately leading to the honour of captaining the Australian team.
As we celebrate the remarkable trajectory of Pat Cummins' career, let's revisit three of his best bowling performances in Tests, spanning from his debut in November 2011 to his ‘Boxing Day' appearance against Pakistan in December 2023.
Pat Cummins' Top 3 Bowling Performances in Tests:
1. 6-79 against South Africa, Johannesburg, 2011
In a bid to bounce back from their eight-wicket defeat to South Africa in Cape Town, Australia awarded Pat Cummins his first Test cap for the series-deciding second match in Johannesburg in November 2011. At the age of 18 years and 193 days, his debut in the game established him as the youngest player in nearly 60 years to represent Australia in Test cricket.
Teaming up with Mitchell Johnson to share the new ball, Cummins captured the key wicket of dangerman Hashim Amla on the opening day, securing the first of his many Test wickets. Wrapping up his spell with figures of 1-38 in 15 overs, the speedster claimed six additional South African victims in the second innings, including middle-order stalwarts Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers.
At just 18 years old, the young cricketer dismantled the South African tail with late bursts, concluding with then career-best figures of 6-79 from 29 overs. Cummins' six-fer in the match not only marked a career milestone but also positioned him as the second youngest player in Test history to take six wickets in an innings. His outstanding performance limited the hosts to 339, establishing a challenging 310-run fourth innings target for Australia.
Fueled by his match-defining spell, the youngster hammered 13 tense unbeaten runs, orchestrating a sensational series-levelling run-chase for his country. This remarkable debut performance earned him the coveted ‘Player of the Match' award.
2. 6-91 against England, Leeds, 2023
After guiding Australia to emphatic victories at Edgbaston and Lord’s in the initial two Tests, Pat Cummins continued to strengthen his country's dominance at Headingley in the third match of the 2023 Ashes against England.
With Australia folding up for just 263 in two sessions on the opening day, Cummins ensured England did not reach stumps with the upper hand. He swiftly removed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook in quick succession with the new ball. The cricketer continued his impact the following morning, claiming four more wickets, including senior Englishman Joe Root for the 11th time in his career. When he concluded his spell, Cummins boasted figures of 6-91, as the hosts crumbled for just 237, conceding a handy 26-run first innings lead to the Australians.
Regrettably for Cummins and Australia, despite his sizzling efforts, the collective brilliance of English pacers overshadowed his performance. Mark Wood secured the ‘Player of the Match' award for steering his country to a close three-wicket win on the fourth afternoon.
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3. 6-27 against India, Melbourne, 2018
With only 14 Tests under his belt at the time, Pat Cummins stood out as the lone wolf in Australia’s bowling attack during their challenging home series against a renowned Indian line-up in late 2018. In the crucial must-win game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the speedster exerted himself for a three-wicket haul in the first innings, as India amassed 443-7 declared to establish a substantial 292-run first innings lead.
On the late afternoon of Day 3, India began their second innings, stretching their lead beyond the 300-run mark without any casualties. Against all logic and expectations, Cummins caused absolute mayhem by swiftly dismantling India’s entire top-order.
The prodigious pace talent captured four Indian wickets in a span of just eight deliveries, marking Australia’s brief fightback in the game. In his eight-ball burst, he eliminated batting heavyweights Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli for ducks, and then came back to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and the well-set opener Mayank Agarwal, concluding with astonishing figures of 6-27.
Despite putting in all the hard work, Cummins saw his impact go to waste as Australia's first innings failure with both bat and ball left them 137 runs behind the visitors, putting them at a 1-2 disadvantage in the four-match series.
Conclusion
In revisiting Pat Cummins' top three Test innings, his exceptional performances shine as testaments to his skill and impact. These moments encapsulate his mastery on the cricket field. To stay updated with live cricket action, including thrilling moments like Cummins', explore the Fast Live Line app and website. From match scores to in-depth analysis, Cricket Live Line is your go-to cricket live line guru, offering real-time updates and insights, ensuring you never miss a moment of cricketing brilliance.
