- June 17, 2025
There’s a certain added thrill about a captain leading the way from the front, especially in a role that isn’t as easy as it sounds—sportingly used to describing leading with the bat or making tactical field placements, but with the ball in hand, running in with fire, purpose and a plan. In a format of the game as unforgiving as Test cricket, five-fers are hard to come by. Now imagine doing it a couple of times over as a captain. Not only do you weigh leadership on your shoulders, but you are just bowling your heart out. That’s what truly makes this elite list of Test captains who have taken the most five-fers a special one—and Pat Cummins just took a big step into that list.
A Captain Who Leads by Lightning
When Pat Cummins was made Captain of the Australian Test team, there was immediate doubt. A fast bowler, captain of Australia? There had never been one before. Now it is June 2025, and Cummins has not only quietened the doubters but he has largely rewritten the story of a bowling captain.
In the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, Cummins provided a spell of bowling for the ages – 6 for 28 (18.1 overs) against South Africa to give Australia a crucial first-innings lead of 74 runs. It was a milestone too: Cummins recorded his ninth five-wicket haul as Test captain, going to ninth place, passing the great Bishan Singh Bedi from India and drawing level.
Then and Now: The Company Cummins Keeps
Being part of this list means more than stats; it means you have a legacy. Look at the names above – Imran Khan, Richie Benaud, Bishan Singh Bedi, Courtney Walsh.
So, let’s take a look:
Courtney Walsh: The West Indian who was known for his relentless line and length, took 7 five-fers while captaining his side in 22 Tests.
Bishan Singh Bedi: The definitive left-arm spinner, Bedi captained India from 1975-79 and took 8 five-wicket hauls.
Richie Benaud: Possibly the most cerebral cricketer of his day, Benaud has 9 fivers, like Cummins, but required fewer matches.
Imran Khan: The imagination standard. No captain has influenced his team like Imran Khan. His force of will, aggression, and charisma led Pakistan, and he still managed to achieve 12 five-wicket hauls as captain.
For Cummins to join that group in itself is a huge achievement. But he adds to it that he did it when he had to manage some heavy workloads on flat pitches and with teammates facing aggressive batting lineups.
A New Blueprint for Captaincy
It’s rare to have a fast bowler captain a team, even more so for that captain to be winning. Fast bowling is a demanding role, physically and mentally. Cummins has reset the expectations of fast bowlers in leadership roles in that he has developed a certain approach. He is good at workload management, using spells in short, brutal bursts of destruction, and most importantly, knows when to attack.
Cummins has also demonstrated his adaptability. Whether it is the turning tracks of India or seamers’ paradise at Lord’s, Cummins has responded to the conditions and adapted his game when required, much like a chess master reads the situation on the board. This is part of what makes this transition in Cummins’ career from “just a bowler” to being involved in one of the top five captain-bowler combinations.
What do you think? Is Pat Cummins going to go all the way and become the most wicket-taking captain in Test match history, or is Imran’s crown safe for the time being? Let the discussions commence.
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