Cummins joins rare company with quick 200

Pat Cummins can lay claim to being one of Australia's finest ever bowlers after reaching 200 Test wickets and putting himself among some of cricket's most revered figures. 

Playing in his 44th Test, Australia's captain brought up the milestone in quintessential Cummins fashion on Friday when he clipped the top of Kraigg Brathwaite's off stump with a ball that angled in and straightened with the seam.

He became the second-fastest Australian quick to the milestone behind only Dennis Lillee (38 Tests), but his achievement stems goes beyond that.

The right-armer's return of 3-34 means his average of 21.50 is now the best of any Australian bowler with 200 or more wickets to their name, as is his strike rate of one wicket every 47.1 balls.

In Test cricket's long history, only English great Fred Trueman and West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall have taken 200 wickets at a strike rate of better than 50 and average of less than 22.

"Incredible. That's pretty crazy," Cummins said after Australia went to stumps with a 344-run lead and two days to play.

"There's still plenty of guys I know who have taken 300, 400 or 700, so comparing numbers doesn't seem as significant as others. 

"But any milestone, when I think of wickets I think of longevity. And knowing I had a bit of time out of the game, it's always a nice realisation."

It's not lost on Cummins the help Lillee gave him during that period.

Injuries robbed Cummins of a potential 64 Tests when he should have been at his quickest, forced to wait five and a half years after his match-winning 6-79 on debut in South Africa for his next Test.

His comeback since his return series in India in 2018 has been emphatic.

Ranked No.1 in the world since the 2019 Ashes, Cummins' grip on the top spot is the longest of any Australian since Clarrie Grimmett way back in the 1930s on historical ICC data.

He has since returned a more consistent bowler, relying not so much on express pace but incredible consistency and ability to move the ball just enough.

"DK (Lillee) has been awesome," Cummins said. 

"That rebuilding phase gave me the confidence I could come back a better bowler and I think over the years, chatting got him over the phone, he's seen it all before. 

"He remembers what Test cricket was like even though it was a little while ago. 

"So he remembers how tough it can be and how to manage your body and manage spells. 

"And having someone like him in my corner giving some words of encouragement, some words of technique advice every now and then is awesome."

BOWLERS WITH 200 TEST WICKETS AT AN AVERAGE OF 25 OR LOWER AND STRIKE RATE OF 50 OR BETTER:

Malcolm Marshall (WI) - wickets: 376, average: 20.94, strike rate: 46.7

Pat Cummins (AUS) - wickets: 202, average: 21.50, strike rate: 47.1

Fred Trueman (ENG) - wickets: 307, average: 21.57, strike rate: 49.4

Kagiso Rabada (RSA) - wickets: 257, average: 22.46, strike rate: 40.2

Allan Donald (RSA) - wickets: 330, average: 22.25, strike rate: 47.0

Dale Steyn (RSA) - wickets: 439, average: 22.95, strike rate: 42.3

Waqar Younis (PAK) - wickets: 373, average: 23.56, strike rate: 43.4.