WTC final: Big milestones within reach for Australia Khawaja, Cummins before the title collision against SA | Mint

New -delhi [India]June 7 (Ani): As Australia’s ICC World Test Championship (WTC) title defense approaches South Africa, two of the brightest stars of the team in the ongoing cycle, captain Pat Cummins and opener Usman Khawaja have a big milestone to chase. Australia will be aimed at becoming the first side ever to defend their ICC WTC Mace, while taking Proteas in the ‘Ultimate Test’ from June 11 at Lord’s. If Australia wants to end the match with their hands on the bright Mace intact, they will need the opener Khawaja to start their rock solid and give Cummins to pick up large wickets to send a powerful SA batting attack consisting of captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickeltton, etc. Khawaja, Australia’s top runner in the cycle so far, with 1,422 runs in 19 Tests and 37 innings at an average of 41.82, with two centuries and six fifties, just needed 70 runs to touch the 6,000 running point in the long format. Currently, Khawaja scored 5.930 runs in 80 Tests at an average of 45.61, with 16 centuries and 27 fifties in 144 innings and the best score of 232. Khawaja is the 16th highest runner for Australia. In all the WTC cycles since 2019, Khawaja is the fifth highest runder as a whole and Australia’s third best batter behind Marnus Labuschagne (4,186 runs in 52 Tests with 11 centuries and 22 fifties) and Steve Smith (4,072 runs in 52 Tests with 13 tons and 17 fifties). Khawaja made 3,165 runs in 39 Tests of his WTC career, with an average of 48.69, including eight centuries and 13 fifties. His best score is 232. Captain Cummins is just six wickets away from 300 Test wickets, he can become the eighth Aussie bowler and the sixth pace of his country to do so. In 67 Tests so far, he took 294 wickets at an average of 22.43, with the best figures of 6/23. He also took a total of 13 five wickets and two ten wickets. In the ongoing cycle, he took a massive 73 scalps in 17 Tests at an average of just over 24, with the best figures of 6/91 and five five-wickets, standing just behind Jasprit Bumrah of India (77 scalps in 15 Tests at an average of 15.09). In all the WTC cycles since 2019, Cummins was the second highest wicketkeeper, with 200 scalps at an average of 22.63, best digits of 6/91 and nine five-wickets. He stands behind the spinner Nathan Lyon (210 scalps in 50 Tests at an average of 26.85). Australia Group for WTC final: USMAN Khawaja, Sam Constas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Matt Kuhnaan. Brendan Dogget. (Ani)