Ashes: Pat Cummins shines on comeback, surpasses Brett Lee
What's the story
Australian captain Pat Cummins made a sensational return to Test cricket, surpassing the wicket tally of fast-bowling legend Brett Lee. In the ongoing third Ashes Test against England at the Adelaide Oval, Cummins took three wickets as the Brits were folded for 286 while responding to Australia's first innings total of 371/10. With this spell, he surpassed Lee's tally of 310 Test wickets. Notably, Cummins missed the first two games due to fitness issues.
Spell
A fine spell from Cummins
England had a steady start in response to Australia's 371 in the first innings. Although the visitors had a 37-run opening stand, they were soon down to 42/3. Cummins drew the first blood by trapping opener Zak Crawley for 9. He then dismissed the talismanic Joe Root (19) for the record 12th time in the format. Jamie Smith (22) was the Australian skipper's final victim as England finished with 286/10.
Record ranking
Cummins ranks 7th among Australia's highest Test wicket-takers
Cummins finished his spell with 3/69 from 17 overs. This spell has put him in the seventh position on Australia's list of highest Test wicket-takers. He has now gone past Lee, who retired in 2008 with 310 wickets from 76 matches. The list is topped by Shane Warne with a whopping 708 wickets. Playing his 72nd Test, Cummins has raced to 312 wickets at 22.10 (5W: 14, 10WM: 2).
Information
100 Ashes wickets loading for Cummins
In The Ashes, Cummins has raced to a tally of 94 wickets from 20 matches at an average of 24.07. This includes two fifers. Meanwhile, 180 of Cummins's scalps have come Down Under at 19.97. As a captain, he has taken 148 Test wickets at 22.67.
Boland
Three wickets for Boland as well
Scott Boland also claimed three wickets in the innings to finish with 3/45 from 15.2 overs. In his 17-Test career, Boland has taken an impressive 72 wickets at an average of 18.04 (5W: 2, 10WM: 1). 30 of his wickets have come in the Ashes at 22.56. At home, he averages a stunning 15.13, having taken 59 wickets. India's Jasprit Bumrah (17.15) and Cummins are the only other bowlers to average under 20 in Australia this century (Minimum 50 wickets).