Australia's Bowling Quartet: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc Reach Historic 600 Test Wickets

Australia’s Bowling Quartet Hits Historic Milestone

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon have made history as the first bowling quartet in Test cricket to collectively take over 600 wickets. Their combined total reached 602 wickets during the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead.

This achievement sets them apart from any other bowling group in Test history. It’s a rare feat reflecting not only skill but endurance, since keeping four frontline bowlers fit and effective together is a tough challenge.

Comparison With Other Famous Quartets

• Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon, Starc (Australia): 38 Tests, 602 wickets
• Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes (England): 34 Tests, 433 wickets
• Joe Root, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ben Stokes (England): 38 Tests, 374 wickets
• Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Nicky Boje, Shaun Pollock (South Africa): 29 Tests, 341 wickets
• Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Brett Lee (Australia): 16 Tests, 284 wickets
• Hazlewood, Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Lyon (Australia): 26 Tests, 308 wickets
• Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Carl Hooper, Ian Bishop (West Indies): 25 Tests, 297 wickets

Wickets Breakdown Among the Quartet

The 602 wickets are shared fairly evenly among the four:

• Pat Cummins: 158 wickets (26.2%)
• Mitchell Starc: 155 wickets (25.7%)
• Josh Hazlewood: 150 wickets (24.9%)
• Nathan Lyon: 139 wickets (23.1%)

This balance stems from their varied bowling styles. Cummins bowls fast with aggressive off-stump targeting, Starc swings the ball left-arm with deadly yorkers, Hazlewood maintains a steady seam attack, and Lyon spins with bounce and overspin. This diversity means batsmen face different challenges each over, sustaining pressure.

Performance Against South Africa at Kingsmead

In the recent innings where South Africa was dismissed for 284 runs across 78 overs, the quartet took nine of the ten wickets. Cummins led with 3 for 54, while Starc, Hazlewood, and Lyon each contributed two wickets. Lyon bowled the most overs (22), controlling the run rate at 2.63 to keep the pressure consistent.

• Beau Webster took the final wicket, dismissing Anrich Nortje.
• Aiden Markram scored 37, David Bedingham 49, and Simon Harmer remained unbeaten with 35.
• Wickets were spread throughout the batting order, highlighting the quartet's comprehensive attack.

Impact on Australia’s Win Rate

Despite many thinking this quartet has played almost every Test together, they have actually appeared simultaneously in only 38 of 154 Tests since Lyon’s debut in 2011—about 24.7% of matches. Injuries and tactical changes often mean one or more are absent.

When all four play together, Australia’s win rate climbs to 62.2%, losses drop slightly to 27%, and draws fall sharply to 10.8%. Without the full quartet, wins stand around 53.8%, losses at 29.1%, and draws at 17.1%. The lower draw percentage suggests this bowling group can regularly dismiss opposition twice, pushing for results rather than stalemates.

Individual Career Test Records

• Pat Cummins - Right-arm fast (Captain), Debut Nov 2011 vs South Africa, 73 Tests, 137 innings, 325 wickets, Average 21.88, Economy 2.89, Strike Rate 45.4, Best Innings 6/23, 14 five-wicket hauls, 2 ten-wicket matches
• Mitchell Starc - Left-arm fast, Debut Dec 2011 vs New Zealand, 98 Tests, 188 innings, 445 wickets, Average 26.16, Economy 3.43, Strike Rate 45.7, Best Innings 7/58, 19 five-wicket hauls, 4 ten-wicket matches
• Josh Hazlewood - Right-arm fast-medium, Debut Dec 2014 vs India, 76 Tests, 143 innings, 295 wickets, Average 24.22, Economy 2.78, Strike Rate 52.3, Best Innings 6/67, 12 five-wicket hauls
• Nathan Lyon - Right-arm off-spinner, Debut Aug 2011 vs Sri Lanka, 136 Tests, 253 innings, 571 wickets, Average 30.21, Economy 2.95, Strike Rate 61.5, Best Innings 8/50, 24 five-wicket hauls, 5 ten-wicket matches

Looking Ahead

The quartet's age is rising but their wicket-taking remains strong. Each continues to bring something unique, which makes the bowling attack highly effective. Australia should manage their workload wisely to keep them fresh because when all four are on the field, the team looks strongest.

Reaching 600 wickets is likely just a milestone on a path that could see the record extended further, making this group one of the greatest bowling combinations in cricket history.