WTC Final 2025: Pat Cummins remains eager for more after completing 300 Test scalps

Ever since his appointment as the captain of the Kangaroos, Pat Cummins has redefined the virtue of leading a team from the front. So when the conditions at Lord's called for the bowlers to dominate the WTC Final, Cummins came to the front again. Fighting against South Africa, Australia have the chance to become the first team to win multiple WTC Final titles if they manage to win in London. Meanwhile, the surface hosting the WTC Final 2025 is dancing to the tunes of the pacers. Day 1 and Day 2 of the summit clash witnessed the fall of 14 wickets each. Cummins, meanwhile, rattled the Proteas with a six-wicket haul in their first innings.

Pat Cummins ecstatic after completing 300 Test wickets at WTC Final 2025

The 32-year-old Australian captain trampled multiple records as he picked six wickets on Day 2 of the WTC Final 2025 at Lord's. The summit clash started with Temba Bavuma opting to bowl first against the defending champions under overcast conditions at the iconic venue. What followed was the ultimate struggle for the batters, one that extended into the second innings as well. Kagiso Rabada headlined the first innings with a five-wicket haul as the Kangaroos were bundled out for 212 on the opening day. However, the same surface that aided them in the opening innings troubled the Protean batters similarly, if not more.

Mitchell Starc led the charge in the second innings on the opening day, scalping two wickets before South Africa slid down to 4 wickets by stumps on Day 1. Thus, the first day at Lord's saw 14 wickets falling in the all-important fixture. The conditions didn't change on the next day as well, as Pat Cummins dominated the proceedings. With the wicket of Wiaan Mulder on the opening day, Cummins claimed a fifer on Day 2 to cripple the Proteas. Temba Bavuma emerged as Cummins's first victim of the day before the Australian captain removed the set batter Verreyne and Marco Jansen in the same over. Cummins capped off with the figures of 6/28 in 18.1 overs.

On his way to claiming the six-wicket haul at Lord's, Cummins overhauled multiple records. The 32-year-old completed 300 wickets in Test cricket, becoming only the eighth player from Australia to reach the mark. Moreover, among the 40 bowlers who have scalped 300 wickets in red-ball cricket overall, Cummins emerged as the fifth-fastest, overcoming the West Indies legend, Malcolm Marshall.

The Australian skipper, furthermore, became just the second cricketer from his country to reach the milestone of 200 wickets in the World Test Championship. Remarkably, he is the only fast bowler on that elite list, having taken 206 wickets at an average of 22.11. Cummins also holds the distinction of recording the best bowling average by an Australian pacer in a single calendar year, provided the tally exceeds 50 wickets.

All of this just on Day 2 of the WTC Final 2025. While the six-wicket haul turned up as one of the best for the Kangaroo, the main goal remained at large. Day 2 of the WTC Final at Lord's saw Australia claiming a 218-run lead over the Proteas. While a healthy margin to take a bet at the win, both the teams remained in contention for the victory at stumps on another day.

However, reaching 300 wickets after spending the initial stage of his career with injury struggles amused Cummins. Rounding off for a press interaction after stumps on Day 2, Cummins reflected on reaching the milestone. The Australian captain expressed his happiness after claiming the feat but remained optimistic about breaching further marks in his career.

"I've had a really good run the last half a dozen years or so of not missing too many games. For the first few years, I didn't know where my second test match was coming. So yeah, I still feel like I've got lots of miles in my legs," Cummins said. "I remember when Gaz (Nathan Lyon) was up past 500. It felt like, yeah, back in the day, 300 felt like you're close to the end. Starc is still, what, he's almost 400. So yeah, hopefully I don't feel like I'm going to end any time soon," he added.

"But again, I think the medical staff, I really need to thank the way they looked after me in the early years and continually to get through a test match, the way they managed the fast bowlers. I think a lot of that is a nod to them as well," he further expressed.