Why Pat is so good!

Australian skipper Pat Cummins tactically dismantled the Pakistani batting order, steering his team to a challenging victory in the second Test. This brought about the question: what does it take to gather numerous Test wickets? I see similar characteristics in Cummins to those of the Australian bowling legend Dennis Lillee, such as their shared motivational influence and unwavering determination. Lillee was always eager to dismiss the opponent's batsmen. As Lillee asserts, “Fast bowling is as much about mental toughness as it is about physical strength.”

In Lillee's bowling approach, he would mentally envisage the ball picked up by ‘keeper Rod Marsh at head height from far off. That’s a glimpse of the psychological aspect of fast bowling. Cummins' exceptional dismissal of Pakistan’s top player, Babar Azam, brought back memories of Lillee’s brilliance.

In one particular match in 1972 at the Oval, England’s resilient wicket keeper, Alan Knott was displaying remarkable resolve. As England's penultimate wicket came down at 356, we all gathered to appreciate bowler Ashley Mallett. Lillee, however, cried out, “We can’t allow them to score any further”. England was leading by 241 at the time. Lillee later took down the persistent Knott at 63, setting a target of 242 for Australia’s remarkable win.

Despite not using his fastest delivery nor any pitch movements, Lillee dispatched Knott with pure determination. Similar to Lillee, Cummins was intent on taking Babar out. Dismissing a prominent batsman is hugely satisfying but also relies on fielders successfully taking catches. An outstanding slip fielder should grasp about 90% of the opportunities that come his way. Unfortunately, Pakistan's slip catching was always underwhelming.

The slip fielder's placement also carries significant weight. If you are lucky to have an adept ‘keeper like Marsh, with an extensive range left and right, the slips can cover vast areas. However, this is not the case for teams like Pakistan and many others. Notable Pakistani pace pair Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had 60% of their Test and ODI wickets either bowled or lbw. This surprisingly high rate indicates that these bowlers were reluctant to depend on their own fielders.

However, with the advanced modern bats, it's not only about how you bowl but how you perform when faced by a skilled aggressive batsman. That’s where the top bowlers shine. In such situations, you require Lillee's mental strength, a quality that Cummins exhibits.

Often you hear, “Stick to the process and don’t fuss about the actual results.” Yet, Pakistan merely beat the edge of the bat at MCG, and many catches were dropped. Had these been caught, it could have been decisive for the match's end as Australia were four down and Pakistan had the chance to turn the tide.

Wickets play an essential role; just ask Cummins. One of Lillee's best attributes was his tremendous skill that batsmen had to tackle first, but even when that was achieved, overcoming his strong determination was another tremendous challenge. On demanding days, I would choose a Lillee or Cummins type of player who is singularly dedicated to taking wickets and relentless. This is why elite fast bowlers like Lillee and Cummins are a captain's dream and a batter's worst fear.