The 2023–25 cycle of the ICC World Test Championship has come to a close and while South Africa lifted the trophy, another name stood tall with the ball-Pat Cummins.
The Australian captain ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker, going past India's pace ace Jasprit Bumrah in the very last match.
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Even though the final at Lord’s did not go in his team’s favour, Cummins gave it his all and walked away with another big achievement in his already glittering Test career.
How did Cummins overtake Bumrah in the final match?
In the WTC Final at Lord’s, Cummins bowled brilliantly in the first innings. He picked up 6 wickets for 28 runs in 18.1 overs, a spell that reminded fans why he is one of the top fast bowlers in the world.
Though Australia could not defend 282 in the final innings, Cummins still managed to pick up one more wicket, that of South African captain Temba Bavuma, taking his tally to 7 wickets in the match. That proved to be enough for him to leapfrog Bumrah and claim the top spot.
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How many wickets did Cummins take in the 2023–25 WTC cycle?
Pat Cummins ended the cycle with a massive 80 wickets from 35 innings, averaging 23.48. Along the way, he collected six five-wicket hauls and four four-wicket hauls. His best figures was 6 for 28 which came at the most crucial stage, in the WTC final itself.
Who were the top wicket-takers in the WTC 2023–25?
Here is a look at the bowlers who dominated with the ball across the tournament:
| Player | Wickets | Innings | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pat Cummins | 80 | 35 | 23.48 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 77 | 28 | 15.09 |
| Mitchell Starc | 77 | 37 | 26.89 |
| Nathan Lyon | 66 | 30 | 25.18 |
| R Ashwin | 63 | 26 | 24.55 |
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With this WTC campaign, Cummins also crossed the 300-wicket mark in Test cricket. He now has 301 wickets in 68 Tests.