Pat Cummins breaks Richie Benaud’s 24,041-day record with heroics in Test win

Pat Cummins has capped off a perfect year by leading Australia to a series victory with a feat that saw him break an Aussie icon’s record.

Pat Cummins is at the peak of his powers.

The Australian captain produced a superb display of bowling to lead his side to a series win over Pakistan and edge higher in Test cricket’s record books.

Australia defeated Pakistan by 79 runs in the Boxing Day Test to take an unassailable 2-0 series lead and retain the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. And they largely have Cummins to thank.

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Cummins finished with 10 wickets for the match, becoming the first Australian captain since Allan Border to take 10 wickets in a Test and the first Aussie bowler to take 10 scalps at the MCG since 1991.

He kept Australia in the game on Day 2 with key wickets and once again stood up when his team was desperate for a breakthrough on Day 4 as Pakistan threatened to pull off an upset.

Set a target of 317 to win, Pakistan were in striking distance when Babar Azam (54) and Mohammad Rizwan (42) reduced the deficit to less than 100 runs.

But Captain Pat pulled the momentum back in Australia’s favour, dismissing Rizwan with a bouncer that caught the wristband attached to his glove. It was given not out but the Aussies successfully reviewed the decision.

The controversial dismissal has infuriated the Pakistan camp but it was a clutch wicket by the Aussie captain.

Pat Cummins put the team on his back. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

The Aussie skipper could do no wrong. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Cummins struck again in quick succession, tearing through Pakistan’s line-up before Mitchell Starc sealed victory with two wickets in two balls.

Cummins finished with figures of 5/48 in the first innings and 5/49 in the second innings. He was deservedly named player of the match.

His 10-wicket haul saw the Aussie skipper surpass Richie Benaud into 10th on the list of Australia’s all-time leading wicket-takers in Test cricket.

Cummins now has 252 wickets from 57 Test matches at a remarkable average of 22.32.

In comparison, Glenn McGrath finished his career with 563 wickets from 124 matches at an average of 21.64.

According stats guru @sirswampthing, Cummins ended Benaud’s 24,041-day streak of being inside Australia’s top 10 wicket takers.

Cummins’ delivery that clean bowled Babar Azam in the first innings will go straight onto his highlight reel alongside the jaffa that dismissed Joe Root in the 2019 Ashes.

Man of the match and flying up the record books. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Richie Benaud is now out of the all-time Aussie top 10.

Cricket pundits were in awe of Cummins’ ability to take key wickets just when Australia need it, and were full of praise for his ever improving tactical sense as a captain.

Pat Cummins takes wicket #249
Richie Benaud's time in the top 10 Test wicket takers list for AUS comes to an end after 24,041 days

@CricketAus#AUSvPAK

— Swamp (@sirswampthing) December 29, 2023

In 2023 Pat Cummins has captained Australia to win the World Test Championship, retain the Ashes, win the World Cup, win a Test series v Pakistan and along the way took more Test wickets than any other fast bowler in the world. Have all those critics woken up now?

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) December 29, 2023

Full list of Australian Test captains with a ten-wicket haul:

Allan Border
PAT CUMMINS#AUSvPAK

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) December 29, 2023

Pat Cummins you absolute bloody superstar! #AUSvPAK

— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) December 29, 2023

Pat Cummins I was wrong. I questioned your tactical nous and your tenure as skipper during the frustrating Ashes series. Once again today at the G you have lead our country over the line with your big ❤️ & immense skill, they were never in question. Im so happy to eat my words 🙏

— Darren Berry (@ChuckBerry1969) December 29, 2023

Cricket broadcaster Bharat Sundaresan tweeted: “For such a nice fellow, Pat Cummins is also the grinch for those who dare to dream about miracle wins for the opposition.

“Every time Pakistan have looked like having a chance, he’s come on & shut them up.”

Cummins’ heroics means he has completed a near perfect 2023 with Australia winning the World Test Championship, retaining the Ashes, winning the ODI World Cup and now taking a 2-0 series lead.

The Australia vs Pakistan Test series concludes with the third Test at the SCG beginning on Wednesday 3 January.

Originally published as Pat Cummins breaks Richie Benaud’s 24,041-day record with heroics in Test win