Australia is once again dominating the test cricket world as they returned to the top on the ICC Test rankings. Australia's spectacular 4-0 win in the Ashes took the team to the top. Also, this is the first time Australia reached the No.1 ranking since May 2020.

Read also: T20 World Cup 2022: Full schedule and fixture PDF download

Pat Cummins and his men thrashed England in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Hobart. On the other hand, the fourth test in Sydney resulted in a draw. Australia jumped over India and New Zealand and clinched the top position with 119 rating points. The former top ranked team India slipped to the 3rd rank post 2-1 series defeat to South Africa. New Zealand is at the second position with 117 rating points.

Marnus Labuschagne

Marnus Labuschagne tops the ICC Test Rankings with 935 rating points. The Australian batter aggregated 526 runs in 5 test matches in the year 2021 with an average of 65.75 and and a strike rate of 49.07. His 526 runs also include 2 centuries against India and England. On the other hand, Marnus hit 106 runs in 2 test matches this year with an average of 26.50 and and a strike rate of 64.24.

Read also: ICC Awards 2021: ICC Men's Test Team of the year 2021

Pat Cummins

The Australian captain Pat Cummins started his captaincy career phenomenally by emerging victory in the Ashes. In 2021, Cummins scalped 21 overs in 156.5 overs. He took his best bowling figure of the year 5/38 against England in the Brisbane Cricket Ground. He bowled 68.3 overs in 2022 and took 11 wickets with a BBI of 4/45. He is holding the top position of the ICC test rankings since the 2019 Ashes.

Australia is clearly back in the form and ruling the test cricket once again. Do you thnk that Australia will be successful in continuing this reign?

In the high-stakes match of WTC final, every run saved and every wicket taken matters. This article will provide you with some extraordinary spells of bowlers around the world that made a big impact for their respective teams.

These figures define the epitome of world-class bowling performances in WTC finals. Get ready to dive into the best figures in ICC WTC Final.

1. Pat Cummins (6/28) vs SA, Lord's, 2025

The Australian Captain, Pat Cummins dismantled South Africa's batting line-up in their first innings of WTC 2025 Final, taking 6 wickets for just 28 runs. After getting bowled out for 212 while batting first, his spell restricted SA to only 138, providing them a 74-run lead.

His exceptional spell included dismissals of batters like Temba Bavuma, David Bendingham, and others. He also became the Australian captain with most 5-wicket hauls in Tests, and holds the 2nd place overall.

This performance bounds us to ask: Is Pat Cummins the greatest test bowling captain of this generation?

Read Also: Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

2. Kyle Jamieson (5/31) vs IND, Southampton, 2021

The tall New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson was phenomenal in their inaugural WTC win against India in 2021. He exploited the English conditions perfectly and took 5 wickets for 31 runs, which included the dismissal of India's test legend, Virat Kohli.

Jamieson was also awarded Player of the Match in the final, which explains how crucial his performance was for their victory.

3. Kagiso Rabada (5/51) vs AUS, Lord's, 2025

The WTC 2025 Final saw another bowling brilliance from South African pacer Kagiso Rabada this time, who stands at the 3rd place with his 5 wickets for 51 runs against Australia.

Rabada marked his comeback for SA with vital dismissals of Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green in quick succession with his fiery deliveries.

4. Nathan Lyon (4/41) vs IND, The Oval, 2023

Australia's veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon played a crucial role in the second innings of the WTC 2023 Final. He used the assistance of the pitch and cleaned up India's lower order, including the decisive final wicket that sealed the victory.

He took 4 wickets for 41 runs with an economy of 2.64.

Read Also: Rabada passes Donald: Most Test wickets for South Africa

5. Tim Southee (4/48) vs IND, Southampton, 2021

New Zealand's swing maestro Tim Southee provided crucial breakthroughs in India's second innings of the 2021 final. He took 4 wickets for 48 runs, bowling for 19 overs, and delivered what Jamieson did in the first innings for them.

Southee dismissed Shami and Bumrah to wrap up the match quickly with his effective bowling.

Winning an ICC tournament final demands exceptional skill from every player, but history shows that a phenomenal bowling performance can be the ultimate difference-maker. Destructive spells can break down the opposition in no-time and seal the victory single-handedly.

It is time to revisit such unbelievably good performances from bowlers across the world. Check out the list of best figures in an ICC tournament final.

1. Pat Cummins (6/28) vs SA | ICC WTC 2025 Final

• Wickets: 6
• Runs: 28
• Overs: 18.1
• Economy: 1.54

Pat Cummins' 6/28 against South Africa in the 2025 WTC Final has broken all the long-standing record for best figures in an ICC tournament final. On a challenging Lord's pitch, he brilliantly ripped through the South African batting line-up in their first innings.

Cummins was particularly impactful after the lunch break on Day 2, where he single-handedly shattered their middle and lower order, taking wickets of the skipper Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, and others.

His spell restricted the Proteas to only 138 runs, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 74 runs.

read Also: Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

2. Jacques Kallis (5/30) vs WI | ICC Champions Trophy 1998 Final

• Wickets: 5
• Runs: 30
• Overs: 7.3
• Economy: 4.00

Jacques Kallis was the key all-rounder who helped South Africa secure their first-ever ICC title in 1998 with his spectacular performance. He contributed with the bat, but what stood out was his 5-wicket haul (for only 30 runs) that took down half of the West Indies batting line-up.

This performance was a glimpse of the wonderful career he had as one of the world's premier all-rounders.

3. Kyls Jamieson (5/31) vs IND | ICC WTC 2021 Final

• Wickets: 5
• Runs: 31
• Overs: 22
• Economy: 1.40

Kyle Jamieson literally blew team India away with his 5/31 spell in the WTC 2021 Final, earning the trophy as well as POTM title. His ability to produce extra bounce on a green Southampton pitch dismissed dangerous batters like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant.

His spell helped New Zealand take a lead in the first innings which was crucial for their eight-wicket victory.

4. Joel Garner (5/38) vs ENG | ICC Cricket World Cup 1979 Final

• Wickets: 5
• Runs: 38
• Overs: 11
• Economy: 3.45

Joel Garner's 5/38 against England in the 1979 CWC Final is one of the most iconic spells in the World Cup history. His towering height and lethal accuracy bagged him five wickets in a mere 11 balls.

After Viv Richards' magnificent century in the first innings, which put out a strong 286 on board, Garner brilliantly took the charge to slow the English batters down, never letting them reach near the total.

This performance secured a 98-run victory for West Indies, along with their second consecutive World Cup win.

Read Also: Most Wickets in ICC Tournament Finals

5. Gary Gilmour (5/48) vs WI (ICC Cricket World Cup 1975 Final)

• Wickets: 5
• Runs: 48
• Overs: 12
• Economy: 4.00

Gary Gilmour was Australia's star bowler in the ICC CWC 1975 Final who gave all his efforts taking 5 wickets for 48 runs but the team ultimately fell short at the end. Coming off a stunning 6/14 in the semi-final, he continued his impressive form on the biggest stage.

His spell provided Australia a fighting chance to defend the total in a high-scoring final match, making it one of the very few five-wicket hauls ever taken in a World Cup Final.

Australian captain Pat Cummins made history by taking a five-wicket haul in the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's. He went past India's Bishan Singh Bedi in an all-time list of captains with most five-fers in Test cricket history. Cummins ran through the South African batting unit, leading Australia's fightback after they were bundled out for 212 in the first innings.

Also Read: Most Wickets in ICC Tournament Finals

In this article we will be discussing about the most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Test cricket.

Most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests

5. Jason Holder (West Indies) | 7 Times

Former Windies captain Jason Holder holds the fifth spot in this list. Holder picked up a 5-wicket haul seven times as a captain in Test cricket. Overall with the ball, Holder has 162 scalps at 30.27. He has eight five-wicket hauls to show besides a solitary match 10-fer. He claimed 1/39 across 17 overs in the first innings.

4. Bishan Singh Bedi (India) | 8 Times

Former Indian left-arm spinner, late Bishan Singh Bedi, is fourth on this list. Bishan Singh Bedi played 67 Tests for India and picked up 266 wickets at an average of 28.71 with 14 five-wicket hauls. When he retired, he was India's leading wicket-taker in the longest format.

He captained India in 22 Tests between 1975 and 1979, taking over from the great Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi. During his time as Test captain, Bishan Singh Bedi bagged as many as eight five-wicket hauls.

3. Richie Benaud (Australia) | 9 Times

Former Australian all-rounder, late Richie Benaud, is second on this list. The legendary cricketer was among the most influential players of his time back in the day. From 1958 to 1963, he led Australia in 28 Tests. Australia dominated under his leadership and never lost a single series.

As Test captain, Richie Benaud picked up nine five-wicket hauls and is above Pat Cummins having played fewer Tests. Benaud represented Australia in 63 Tests in his career and bagged 248 wickets at an average of 27.03 with 16 five-wicket hauls overall.

2. Pat Cummins (Australia) | 9* Times

Current Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins, who previously had eight five-wicket hauls to his name as captain in the longest format, overtook Bishan Singh Bedi to move to number three on this elite list with his five-fer against South Africa in the 2025 WTC final.

Cummins now has nine five-wicket hauls as Test captain in his career. The Australian quick has played 67 Tests and has 294 wickets at an average of 22.43 with 13 five-wicket hauls so far (67 being the ongoing 2025 WTC final). He also broke several records with his stunning performance against South Africa.

Also Read: Rabada passes Donald: Most Test wickets for South Africa

1. Imran Khan (Pakistan) | 12 Times

Former Pakistan captain and all-rounder Imran Khan tops the list of most 5-wicket hauls by a captain in Tests. From 1982-1992, Imran Khan led Pakistan in 48 Test matches. He is the only captain to take 5-wicket hauls in more than 10 times in Test cricket.

As Test captain, the former all-rounder bagged 12 five-wicket hauls, which is the most by any bowler to date. Overall, Imran Khan played 88 Tests in his international career and picked up 362 wickets at an average of 22.81 with 23 five-wicket hauls. Imran has also taken 10 or more wickets in 4 matches in his Test career, which is the most taken by any captain in this format.

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Pat Cummins | Australia 

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

Read Also: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement from ODI cricket on Monday, ending his 13-year-long ODI career. However, he will continue to play T20I cricket. Maxwell has taken this decision to prioritise the T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, the Big Bash League and his other global cricket.

Also Read: Youngest Cricketers to lead India in Tests

Let's take a look at all the records of Glenn Maxwell in ODI cricket.

Maxwell's ODI career

Glenn Maxwell scored 3,990 runs in his ODI career at an average of 33.81, with his highest score being 201 not out. He scored four centuries and 23 half-centuries. In bowling, he took 77 wickets at an average of 47.32, with his best performance being 4/40. Maxwell played 149 ODIs for Australia. 

In the 2023 World Cup, Maxwell made the record for scoring the fastest century in World Cup history by scoring a century in just 40 balls against the Netherlands. Apart from this, he also created a stir in the cricket world by playing an innings of 201 runs against Afghanistan.

All the records of Glenn Maxwell in ODI cricket

• Highest Individual score in an ODI run-chase: Glenn Maxwell scored an unbeaten 201 in the 292-run chase against Afghanistan during the World Cup 2023. This is the highest individual score by any batter in a run chase in ODIs. He also became the first ever Australian player to score a double-century in the format. 
• Fastest ODI century for Australia: Glenn Maxwell smashed a century off just 40 balls against the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the World Cup in 2023. This is the fastest century for Australia in their ODI cricket history.
• Highest career strike-rate: Glenn Maxwell retires from ODIs with a career strike-rate of 126.70, the highest for any player in the world who has played 100 or more ODIs. Among all players, Maxwell finishes with the second highest strike rate with Andre Russell on top, who strikes at 130.22 in 56 ODIs.
• Most centuries in the World Cup while batting at no.5 or below: Glenn Maxwell scored three centuries in the World Cup during his illustrious ODI career. These are the most for any batter in World Cup history while batting at no.5 or below. 
• Second fastest double century in ODIs: Glenn Maxwell smashed the second-fastest double century in ODIs. He reached the 200-run mark against Afghanistan in World Cup off just 128 balls with the fastest being from 126 balls by Ishan Kishan against Bangladesh in 2022.
• Third most sixes in World Cup history: Glenn Maxwell finished his career with 43 sixes in the World Cup, the third most behind Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle. During the World Cup in 2023, he went past David Warner to become the leading six-hitter for Australia in the format.
• Second most sixes for Australia in ODIs: Glenn Maxwell finished with 155 sixes in ODIs, second most maximums for Australia in the format, only behind Ricky Ponting who smacked 159 sixes.