Australia's Pat Cummins and Usman Khawaja Target Milestones in WTC Final
Australia Prepares for WTC Title Defense
As Australia readies itself to defend the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title against South Africa at Lord’s starting June 11, two pivotal players, captain Pat Cummins and opener Usman Khawaja, are on the verge of achieving significant personal milestones.
Australia aims to become the first team to successfully defend the WTC mace, having triumphed in the 2023 final against India. To achieve this, the team will depend on Cummins' bowling prowess and Khawaja's ability to provide solid starts against a strong South African batting lineup, which includes notable players like Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, and Ryan Rickelton.
Khawaja Approaches 6,000 Test Runs
Khawaja has emerged as Australia's most reliable batsman during the current WTC cycle, accumulating 1,422 runs in 19 Tests (37 innings) at an average of 41.82, which includes two centuries and six fifties. Over his Test career, he has amassed 5,930 runs in 80 matches at an average of 45.61, featuring 16 centuries and 27 fifties, with a personal best of 232. He is just 70 runs shy of reaching the 6,000-run milestone, a feat that would further solidify his status as one of Australia's leading red-ball batsmen.
Khawaja currently ranks 16th among Australia's all-time Test run-scorers and is the fifth-highest run-scorer in all WTC cycles since 2019. Within the Australian team, only Marnus Labuschagne (4,186 runs) and Steve Smith (4,072 runs) have scored more during the WTC era.
In total, Khawaja has achieved 3,165 runs in 39 WTC Tests at an average of 48.69, including eight centuries and 13 fifties.
Cummins on the Brink of 300 Wickets
On the other hand, skipper Pat Cummins is just six wickets away from reaching the 300 Test wickets milestone, which would make him the eighth Australian and the sixth fast bowler from Australia to achieve this feat. To date, Cummins has taken 294 wickets in 67 Tests at an impressive average of 22.43, including 13 five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match hauls. His best bowling figures in an innings are 6/23.
In the ongoing WTC cycle, Cummins has secured 73 wickets in 17 Tests at an average slightly above 24, with five five-wicket hauls. He ranks second to India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who leads with 77 wickets in 15 Tests at an extraordinary average of 15.09.
Since the WTC's inception in 2019, Cummins stands as the second-highest wicket-taker with 200 wickets at an average of 22.63, trailing only Nathan Lyon, who has 210 wickets in 50 Tests at an average of 26.85.
Motivation for the Ultimate Test
As Australia gears up for the 'Ultimate Test' at Lord’s, these individual milestones could serve as significant motivators for Cummins and Khawaja in their quest for consecutive WTC titles.