The Fearsome Trio of Australian Cricket: Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood
Some player combinations come to be feted in cricket history as catalysts for their team’s fortunes. For Australia, it is the triumvirate of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood – a word most often used to associate dominance with them, particularly in terms of pace bowling. All of them have something to give to the team, yet collectively they are almost an insurmountable wall that a batting line-up has to cross over. And if Starc is not good enough to break the bulwark, Cummins will be able to do it; if he too fails then Hazlewood will. Their ferocity and dependability mark the word for this triumvirate of Australians.
The rising of the trio
The story of these three pacemen to the summit of world cricket begins at different points. Pat Cummins, a teenager bursting into the scene from Westmead, came with raw pace and promise; injury threats badly threatened his career. Then there emerged Mitchell Starc, the fiery left-armer from Baulkham Hills and a bowler who could swing it each way and deliver magical spells. Thereon ensued three years of Tamworth’s Josh Hazlewood, a smooth and composed bowler who made an impressive entry with his impeccable line, length, and consistency.
Though brilliant as individuals, due to a series of injuries they always ensured that at least one was out of the frame at any given time, they did not get the opportunity to come together until November 2017 in first-class cricket. United thereafter, they were almost invincible and gave the backbone of the Australian bowling side across formats.
Numbers That Speak Volumes
In the 62 games in which they have bowled together, Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood have taken 396 wickets on an average of 25.33 that leaves them hitting every 49.5 balls. Their performances make them third best bowling trio in Tests after New Zealand’s Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner who have taken 535 wickets together and the usual suspect West Indian trio of Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, and Ian Bishop, who have cumulatively taken 412.
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What sets them apart, though is their strike rate, which is only matched by South Africa’s Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander. Numbers aren’t just reflective of consistency, but they also speak to how well these guys can hang their hat against any batting lineup the world.
The Greatest Trio?
Former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie, an exponent of another iconic bowling unit featuring Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee, frequently speaks in praise of this trio. According to Gillespie, Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood might well be the best trio of pace bowling Australia has ever produced. He particularly prays for their variety as every bowler does something distinctive on his plate.
“In terms of variety, they are right at the top of the tree,” Gillespie once said, underlining how their differing styles complement each other.
The Bond Beyond Cricket
What has worked so well for their relationship is not only the skill but the camaraderie as well. The Cummings have described the bond among them as free from egos, mutual support, and collective effort. In writing for a column for Player’s Voice, he said, “There are no egos whatsoever. It’s a special group. It feels like we grow an extra leg when we play together.”
This brotherhood sense shines very vibrantly on the field. It is whether they are celebrating each other’s wickets or taking turns to play the supporting role; their selflessness is the core of their success.
Mitchell Starc: The Wicket-Taker
Mitchell Starc is about to enter his 13th year in international cricket but has gone on to become that bowler who can be adapted to under the most circumstances. True, his pace may not have been as spectacularly sharp as his earlier days, but he has compensated with better control, subtle variations, and getting movement off older balls.
He is known as “The Mop” for his ability to pick up wickets in a short period of time. Starc remains an essential piece of equipment for Australia. His opening spells often set the tone and put Australia in dominant positions. That makes him a constant threat for the opposition batsmen.
Pat Cummins: The Captain and Leader
The youngest of the three, Pat Cummins, transformed an injury-prone brat into one of the finest bowlers across the world and is, as it stands, the captain of Australia in Test cricket. He bowls with hostile pace and can hit those uncomfortable lengths that could potentially dismantle any batting lineup on his day.
It’s his penchant for being versatile. He can bowl long spells, is adaptable to different conditions, and provides breakthroughs when needed. As a leader, he has infused confidence and resilience into his teammates, thereby raising the trio’s performance to a different level.
Josh Hazlewood: The Reliable Artisan
Very often, Josh Hazlewood is compared to Glenn McGrath for his pegged accuracy, but Josh Hazlewood is somewhere in the middle. Lines and lengths that force batsmen into making mistakes and Hazlewood cashes it with glee. His composed nature and dependable performances have made Hazlewood the most prized asset for both Tests and limited-overs formats.
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Australia, too, has benefited equally from Hazlewood’s quiet effectiveness, as Starc and Cummins tend to hog limelight with their incendiary spells most often. He controls the run of play and generates pressure very well complemented by his fellow pacers’ attacking instincts.
A Legacy in the Making
Their legacy goes well as they do, and their names are engraved upon the finest moments of Australian cricket history-from clinching the Ashes to playing in a World Cup campaign, even deterring batsmen to inspiring the next generation of Australian pacers.
It exhibits the individual brilliance, collective understanding, and commitment to the cause of the team. Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood now have it etched in cricketing history as they look forward to inching closer to breaking a record formerly set by greats before them.
Conclusion
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood are more than three brilliant bowling all-rounders who represent the heart and soul of cricket. Together, they innovate and change, but most importantly, they support each other. As long as they keep breaking boundaries, cricket buffs and experts can just stand by and watch in utter awe at the brilliance of this once-in-a-generation trio.
