In a historic display of leadership and fast-bowling prowess, Australian captain Pat Cummins has achieved a monumental milestone during the Adelaide Test of Ashes 2025-26 series vs England.
Pat Cummins equals Imran Khan’s legendary feat during 3rd Ashes 2025-26 Test vs England
By spearheading Australia’s victory in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval on December 21, 2025, Cummins became only the second captain in the history of Test cricket to claim 150 wickets while leading his side. This achievement places him in the company of the legendary Pakistani all-rounder and captain Imran Khan, who previously stood alone in this elite category. Cummins reached the 151-wicket mark as captain in just his 38th Test at the helm, boasting a superior strike rate and average compared to many of his predecessors.
Elite company: Most wickets in Tests as captain
Only ten captains in the history of the game have surpassed the 100-wicket mark, but the gap between the top two and the rest of the field is now significant.
| Player | Country | Matches as Captain | Wickets | 5-Wkt Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imran Khan | Pakistan | 48 | 187 | 12 |
| Pat Cummins | Australia | 38 | 151 | 9 |
| Richie Benaud | Australia | 28 | 138 | 9 |
| Garry Sobers | West Indies | 39 | 117 | 3 |
| Daniel Vettori | New Zealand | 32 | 116 | 6 |
| Kapil Dev | India | 34 | 111 | 4 |
A milestone-heavy Adelaide Test for Cummins
Cummins’s performance in the Adelaide Test was not just about the 150-wicket captaincy club; he simultaneously rewrote several other sections of the record books:
- Surpassing Mitchell Johnson: With his 315th career Test wicket, Cummins moved past Mitchell Johnson (313 wickets) to become Australia’s 6th highest wicket-taker of all time in Test cricket.
- The Root Nemesis: Cummins dismissed Joe Root for the 13th time in Tests during the second innings. This is the most any bowler has dismissed the English batting maestro in the five-day format.
- Ashes Dominance: The Australian skipper has now raced to 97 Ashes wickets in just 20 matches, maintaining an average of 23.57.
Despite his red-hot form, Cummins indicated following the Adelaide victory that he might miss the upcoming Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Having secured a commanding 3-0 lead to retain the Ashes, the captain suggested a reassessment of risk regarding his workload.
“Now that the series has been won, there might be a sense of job’s done and let’s reassess the risk. I doubt I’ll be playing Melbourne, and then we’ll have a chat about Sydney.” Cummins said to the media after Adelaide Test.
With Cummins potentially stepping back to rest, Australia may look to their bench strength to complete a potential whitewash, while the captain cements his legacy as one of the greatest bowling leaders the game has ever seen.
