Pat Cummins, not Jofra Archer, is the best bowler in this Ashes series

Despite Jofra Archer’s explosive start to his Test career, it is Australia who have the world’s premier fast bowler in their ranks. And new ball duties and the vice-captaincy have him ‘loving every minute’ of Ashes conflict.

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Pat Cummins is waiting for someone to tap him on the shoulder and say “the jig’s up mate”.

Consider his 2019 so far. He won the Allan Border medal, he’s the number one Test bowler in the world, the fastest Australian to 100 Test wickets, and now a new ball bowler in an Ashes series.

Given he spent the years between his stunning Test debut in 2011, as an 18-year-old no less, and his second Test six years later in 2017 wondering if he’d ever play one more, they are enough achievements for a career, not eight months.

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Then last Sunday, the Australian vice-captain — yeah he’s achieved that too — lasted the final 30 minutes at Lord’s, in near darkness, with English weapon Jofra Archer firing missiles, to guide his county to a gripping draw.

Pat Cummins has been consistently the best bowler on show this Ashes series so far.

“Two years ago I would have been pumped just to be back in the Test side,” Cummins said, sitting in the stands at Headingley, sunglasses on, smiling, happy and pressure free just 48 hours before going in to Ashes battle again.

“Now I spend 10 months of the year playing for Australia. It doesn’t get much better than that. I’m loving it. It won’t be like that forever, but I’ll enjoy it while it is.”

Cummins made his debut for Australia as a fresh faced 18-year-old in South Africa.

Cummins has been in England since May. He played the first of his 10 World Cup games in June, the last in July, then jumped right in to the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston just two weeks later.

He thought, at some stage, he’d be pining for home.

But instead, he’s priming himself to play all five Ashes Tests, even though he’s gone all-in on the “squad mentality” approach Australia is hoping can be the planning diamond that gets them to take the urn back home.

Cummins batted out the final stage of the fifth Test in English gloom to save the match.

“I do if I am fit and firing for sure,” Cummins said, talking about playing every Test.

“After the last game, JL (coach Justin Langer) asked if I was good to go, and I said I was all fine. I expect every game is going to be the same.

“When we talk about the squad mentality, you still pick your best three bowlers for every game. We are just in a better position if I or one of the boys is cooked, they can come straight in.”

He conceded the bowler’s WhatsApp group had been a “little bit quiet” with the likes of Mitchell Starc unable to crack it for a Test so far.

Cummins’ role has changed within the side even since his ‘second comming’ in 2017.

“But the cartel sticks pretty tight,’ he said, dismissing any notion of angst from those missing out.

Cummins has been the best bowler through the opening two Tests. His 13 wickets is the most of either side.

He’s got them in a new role too, as a new ball bowler.

When Cummins took seven wickets on debut in South Africa, he was a new ball bowler.

But in his second incarnation, he’s been behind the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Now they are both behind Cummins.

It was such a new experience, the now 26-year-old conceded to struggling first up at Edgbaston.

The occasion got to him, albeit only briefly.

“I was just really excited. I hadn’t played a Test match in six months, it was my first one over here, a big series, I was so desperate to make an impact,” he said,

“With a new ball as well, it’s been hard. Coming from one day cricket and trying to bowl fast, it was about finding that balance and the rhythm of Test cricket, I feel like it probably took me a spell.”

After 10 World Cup games, and with that gap since his last Test, it was reminder also that he had time.

Cummins has excelled within his leadership role and is a potential future Test captain.

“When you haven’t played one for a while, you feel like with every spell you have to try and have wicket taking balls,” he said.

“Whereas playing a lot of Test cricket in Australia, you know it’s going to be a long grind, you settle in and take your medicine a little bit. After that spell I just relaxed and remembered how long a Test match is and I was fine.”

Fine is an understatement. His four final day wickets to help roll England, to take Australia 1-0 up, flew under the radar as Nathan Lyon took six.

But Cummins took another six last week at Lord’s, and faced over 100 balls with the bat too, across both innings, including that crucial 17 last Sunday, mostly against spinner Jack Leach, as he and his fellow vice-captain Travis Head held out the home team.

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The tension was so real, everyone could feel it, at the ground or not.

“Once I got out there I was pretty relaxed,” Cummins said. Of course he was.

“The change room is pretty intense when there is still an hour to go and things are happening. When you are out there facing it, and in control you don’t seem to get as nervous.

“I like the challenge, trying to weather the storm.”

For six years that’s exactly what he did.

An Australian Ashes victory, in England, could be his reward.