Australia’s fast bowler Pat Cummins had had a great year in 2019. Cummins ended the year with 99 International wickets as he breathed down the neck of the opposition batsmen. The Australian pacer was at his best in the Test matches as he took 59 wickets in the 12 Test matches of the year at an impressive average of 20.13 and a strike rate of 44.7.
Consequently, Cummins finished the year with the highest wickets collectively in all the three forms of the game. In fact, Cummins scalped 11 more wickets than Mitchell Starc who claimed 88 wickets in 2015. Furthermore, no other fast bowler has taken more wickets than Cummins since Mitchell Johnson took 113 wickets in 2009.
Cummins is bowling at his best.
Meanwhile, the all-time record for fast bowlers is held by former legendary pacer Glenn McGrath who had taken 119 wickets in 1999 in both the formats. Sri Lanka’s former spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has most International wickets in a calendar year as he finished 2001 with 136 scalps in ODI and Test format. India’s world cup winning skipper Kapil Dev had ended as the leading wicket-taker in 1979.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders broke the bank for buying Pat Cummins as they spend INR 15.50 crores in the IPL 2020 auction. Cummins became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. New South Wales bowler is also the number one Test bowler in the ICC Rankings.
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test against New Zealand, which Australia convincingly by 247 runs. However, he went wicketless in the second dig of the Test match.
Cummins has been right on the money and his express pace has helped him borne fruits for Australia. The gun pacer will like to continue his good show going in the coming years and get the job done for the Australian team.