Rabada vs. Cummins: Decoding the Bowling Styles of Test Cricket Giants

The world of fast bowling awaits another captivating duel: Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins, two right-arm pacers at the zenith of Test cricket. Though seemingly alike in their fiery demeanor, their arsenals unveil distinct approaches.

Rabada, the younger by two years, surprisingly has four more Tests under his belt than Cummins. Yet, their career numbers showcase uncanny parallelism. The South African spearhead has snared 280 wickets in 60 matches, averaging a potent 22.34, while the Australian skipper trails with 242 scalps at 22.85.

While statistics paint a close picture, Rabada’s true weapon lies in his strike rate. Clocking in at a lightning-fast 39.7, he holds the title for the world’s most lethal strike rate among bowlers with over 200 Test wickets. This stands in stark contrast to Cummins’ more measured approach, evidenced by his strike rate of 47.7.

Fast Bowlers Aggresion

When it comes to aggresion, Rabada reigns supreme. This has been attribute of South African fast bowlers in general and when Rabada is in full force, it is like it brings best out of him. He needs something to fire him up, he enjoys duels.

On the other hand, Cummins is quite strategic in his efforts, from reading batter’s weakness and knowing on bowling where he has the best chance of getting wickets. Not particularly aggresive but Cummins also enjoys duel sometimes.

Kagiso Rabada’s Bowling Style in Test Cricket

Rabada unleashes a potent cocktail of line and length in Test cricket, keeping batsmen on tenterhooks. He can sling searing yorkers at the toes, then extract vicious bounce with fuller deliveries just outside the off-stump. His mastery of angles, from around the wicket to over the wicket, forces batsmen to adjust constantly.

He isn’t afraid to mix it up, peppering them with both inswingers and outswingers, all delivered with ferocious pace and laser-like accuracy. This relentless assault on both pads and ribcage makes him a nightmare to face, as batsmen struggle to predict and counter his ever-shifting artillery.

Pat Cummins’ Bowling Style in Test Cricket

Pat Cummins, the Aussie skipper, wields his line and length like a seasoned maestro. He picks the corridor just outside off on 4 metres length, teasing batsmen with late swing that nips back just as they commit. When the pressure builds, he unleashes a searing bouncer, testing reflexes and forcing awkward fumbles.

But Cummins isn’t a one-trick pony. He potrafiks his angles, occasionally drifting the ball in to trap the indecisive on the crease, or angling across to draw a tempting edge. His variations, coupled with pinpoint accuracy, make him a master of orchestrating dismissals involving stump, a conductor of wickets in the grand symphony of Test cricket.

Cummins Edges Over Rabada in Discipline 

Discipline? Rabada has a tempestuous relationship with it. He can explode off the pitch, but when his fire is channeled, even stalwarts like Smith and Kohli tremble. In those moments of controlled passion, he becomes an unstoppable force, proving that raw talent, when harnessed, can dismantle the best defenses.

Picture an Australian fast bowler carved in granite: unwavering, methodical, relentless. That’s Cummins. He doesn’t waste energy on theatrics; his weapon is consistency. No matter how batters prod and poke, he maintains his line and length, grinding away until victory is his. His recent surge in pace is merely another refinement in his relentless pursuit of excellence.