When one talks about modern-day Australian pace bowling, two names that pop up first in mind are Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Together with Josh Hazlewood, they’ve formed one of the most feared fast-bowling trios in the game. Starc and Cummins have carried forward Australia’s legacy of producing world-class quicks. With the two starting their careers almost at the same time, they had contrasting careers.
Who made their debut first?
Starc was the first to make his international debut. The left-arm pacer burst onto the scene in October 2010, when he played his first ODI against India in Visakhapatnam. His Test debut followed a year later, in December 2011, against New Zealand in Brisbane. Meanwhile, Cummins made his Test debut in November 2011 against South Africa at the Wanderers, producing a sensational seven-for in his very first match. Though Cummins’ debut grabbed more attention, it was Starc who entered international cricket earlier and first as a regular in Australia’s white-ball sides.
Who became an international star first?
Starc’s swing-bowling abilities and bowl toe-crushing yorkers quickly earned him comparisons to the great Mitchell Johnson. He was Player of the Tournament at the 2015 ODI World Cup, where he took 22 wickets at an average of 10.18, helping Australia lift their fifth world title. However, Cummins’ career was initially interrupted by regular injuries as he missed six years of Test cricket after his debut. But once he returned in 2017, he became one of the world’s premier fast bowlers and eventually, Australia’s Test and ODI captain.
By late 2012, Starc and Cummins had become the spearheads of Australia’s attack across formats. Their contrasting styles and abilities made them a nightmare for batters. Along with Hazlewood, they powered Australia to major global titles, including the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups, the 2021 T20 World Cup, and the 2023 World Test Championship.
Carrer stats across formats
Mitchell Starc has played 100 Tests, claiming 402 wickets at an average of 27.02, along with 247 ODI and 79 T20I wickets. He is one of only a handful of Australian quicks to cross the 400-Test-wicket mark. His teammate, Cummins, has taken 309 wickets in 71 Tests, 143 in ODIs, and 66 in T20Is. While Starc is ahead in overall wickets, Cummins stands out for his better averages and economy.
Success in IPL
Both Starc and Cummins have been hot properties in the Indian Premier League. In the 2024 IPL auction, Starc became the most expensive player in IPL history, bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 24.75 crore, surpassing Cummins, who had been purchased moments earlier by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 20.50 crore. Interestingly, Cummins has been more consistent in IPL participation, representing KKR, Delhi Capitals, and SRH across multiple seasons, while Starc’s appearances have been fewer due to injuries and international duties.
In the cash-rich league, Cummins has 79 wickets in 72 matches at an economy of 8.80, while Starc has 65 wickets in 52 matches at 8.61, including a five-wicket haul. Both have also contributed handy runs lower down the order, with Cummins famously smashing a 14-ball fifty in 2022, one of the fastest in IPL history.
Captaincy
Cummins’ career saw a massive push when he was named Australia’s Test captain in 2021 and later the ODI and T20I captain. Under his leadership, Australia achieved an incredible double in 2023, winning both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. Starc, meanwhile, has been the team’s key weapon for over a decade. His recent decision to retire from T20Is marked the end of an era in the shortest format, while Cummins continues to thrive in all three.
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