In conditions tailored to neutralize their strengths, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc emerged victorious, adding another triumph to their already impressive list of achievements.


Recent bias tends to permeate various aspects of life, with cricket being particularly susceptible to its influence. The sport grapples with a simultaneous dance between recency bias and its counterpart, nostalgia bias. Despite the constant emergence of new "Greatest of All Time" (GOAT) contenders, there's a perilous tendency to overlook genuine greatness in the midst of its unfolding.

This phenomenon might explain why Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins don't always find themselves mentioned in the same breath as cricket legends like Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, and Jason Gillespie. Within Australian cricket circles, there's even a sense of frustration when these three are selected for limited-overs cricket, despite their limited participation in such formats. Alternatively, it could be a matter of them being perceived as too progressive for certain individuals.

However, a closer look at their collective achievements paints a compelling picture. With two ODI World Cup victories (Cummins was part of the 2015 squad but didn't feature in the XI), a T20 World Cup triumph, and a World Test Championship title, their accolades speak volumes. Add to that their continuous retention of the Ashes since coming together, coupled with their pivotal role in establishing the second-most dominant Test side at home during their era.

The sole setback in their careers involves experiencing defeat in two home series against a formidable Indian team, coupled with the challenge of not securing a Test series victory in India. This isn't a reflection of any diminishing prowess as bowlers; rather, it stems from India's nearly unbeatable record at home, their superiority during the depleted 2018-19 tour, and the closely contested nature of the 2020-21 series.

While the trio aims to rectify this anomaly in their records, their collective achievements have already etched a lasting legacy across formats. In an era saturated with cricket, where envisioning fast bowlers participating in all formats, let alone winning world titles eight years apart, seems improbable, their endurance, workload management, commitment, priorities, and skill are commendable.

This formidable trio is characterized by unique attributes. Starc, the most direct and aggressive, employs a strategy of bowling full, fast deliveries at the stumps, swinging the new ball, and reversing the old one. Holding the best strike rate among those with 200 ODI wickets and ranking seventh in Tests, Starc exemplifies attacking prowess. Hazlewood, although lacking in pace, compensates with impeccable length control, consistently placing the ball precisely where he intends.

Cummins, positioned among the top six in Test strike rates, stands out as a complete fast bowler. Combining pace, swing, seam movement, and boasting perhaps the most menacing bouncer globally, Cummins shares a unique trait with fellow contemporary Jasprit Bumrah: a partially amputated middle finger, enhancing his grip on the ball.

Despite not being perceived as a formidable threat in the World Cup knockouts, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins demonstrated their prowess. Starc's wicket-taking form wasn't as dominant as in previous World Cups, Hazlewood ranked 16th in the league stage wickets tally, and Cummins shouldered the load during challenging overs, almost losing while defending 388 against New Zealand and struggling against India.


However, their effectiveness became evident in the semi-final, coinciding with a weather disturbance. On a cloudy day with floodlights, all three showcased their class, collectively taking eight wickets for 97 runs. The final, with Cummins as captain, presented a different challenge. The pitch conditions favored spin, traditionally considered kryptonite for fast bowlers.

Cummins opted to field, utilizing the pitch's slowness to Australia's advantage. They strategically placed fielders to counter Rohit Sharma's aggressive start, and their tactics proved effective, saving runs and testing the middle of the pitch. Cummins employed a variety of bowlers from the opposite end, preventing batters from settling.

The turning point came when Cummins surprised Kohli with bounce, inducing a diagonal bat shot. Once the ball started to reverse, Hazlewood and Starc regained their threat, with Starc's pace and angle claiming KL Rahul's crucial wicket. This reversal against India held special significance after their struggle in the 2018-19 Test series.

Cummins, the first out-and-out bowling captain to win an ODI World Cup, accurately read the conditions, setting up victory. This trio, fast-bowling royalty, defied clichés, excelling in limited-overs cricket in Asia with just one frontline spinner. They shattered myths about fast bowlers as captains, the necessity for variations, the significance of runs on the board in a final, and the stereotype that fast bowlers shouldn't be nice or woke.

The enduring wisdom remains: quality fast bowlers, especially when there are three of them, should never be underestimated.