AUS vs ENG, 3rd Test: Cummins overtakes Johnson, becomes sixth-highest wicket taker for Australia in Tests

Australian skipper Pat Cummins went past former pacer Mitchell Johnson to become the sixth-highest wicket taker for his country in Tests on Saturday.

Cummins achieved the feat when he found the outside edge of England’s Ollie Pope’s bat and Marnus Labuschange took a stunning left-handed catch in the slips during the fourth day of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide.

Injured Cummins was forced to miss the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane, both won by the host by eight wickets. When the 32-year-old pacer returned to action at the Adelaide Oval for his 72nd Test, he had 309 wickets to his name.

In England’s first innings, Cummins removed opener Zak Crawley, Joe Root and Jamie Smith to go past former speedster Brett Lee’s tally of 310 scalps. In the second innings, he took down opener Ben Duckett, Pope and Root to overtake Johnson (313).

Earlier, in the same Test, Nathan Lyon went past former fast bowler Glenn McGrath (563) to become the second-most successful bowler for Australia in the red-ball format.

Top 10 highest wicket takers in Tests for Australia

Shane Warne – 708 wickets in 145 Tests

Nathan Lyon – 567 wickets in 141 Tests

Glenn McGrath – 563 wickets in 124 Tests

Mitchell Starc – 420 wickets in 103 Tests

Dennis Lillee – 355 wickets in 70 Tests

Pat Cummins – 315 wickets in 72 Tests

Mitchell Johnson – 313 wickets in 73 Tests

Brett Lee – 310 wickets in 76 Tests

Josh Hazlewood – 295 wickets in 76 Tests

Craig McDermott – 291 wickets in 71 Tests

Published on Dec 20, 2025