World Test Championship: Pat ‘Postman’ Cummins cracks 300 wickets but still needs to deliver one more time

From the teenage kid hitting the winning runs in his first Test match to 30-something Captain Marvel putting his side in touching distance of yet more global glory, ‘Postman’ Pat Cummins just keeps on delivering.

And the good news?

Even if Australia don’t manage to successfully defend their World Test title under his stewardship at Lord’s on Friday, Cummins promised after the latest demonstration of his Midas touch he has no intention of calling it a day for Australia “anytime soon”.

There wasn’t much time for Cummins to reflect too romantically on his latest masterpiece - which single-handedly breathed fire amid a strangely flat early showing from his men on Thursday morning - because he’s now charged with going out and doing it all again on Friday.

And why wouldn’t Australia expect him to produce the goods once more?

It was 14 long years ago that the 18-year-old Cummins grabbed six second-innings wickets and hit the winning runs to earn a thrilling two-wicket win against South Africa in his debut Test in Johannesburg’s Bull Ring in November 2011.

Now here he was, eking out yet another six-wicket haul to give Australia a crucial first-innings lead, take his tally of Test wickets to 300 and move in sight of yet another triumph in a global tournament.

As usual, Cummins was taking it all in his modest stride. No histrionics, just a quiet-sounding satisfaction. “It’s really cool. Knowing there’s not too many on that list who’ve got 300 wickets,” he shrugged.

“As a fast bowler as well, 300’s something I always kind of thought about as a pretty good sign of durability, resilience and longevity. I feel pretty proud to join that group.”

It prompted him to reflect on those difficult years after that initial fireburst of glory in 2011 when he struggled with back trouble.

“I’ve had a really good run the last half-a-dozen years or so, not missing too many games, but for the first few years I didn’t know where my second Test match was coming.”

Then the news everyone wanted to hear.

“But I still feel like I’ve got lots of miles in the legs.

“Gaz (Nathan Lyon) is up past 500 wickets. It felt like back in the day, 300 you’re close to the end. Starcy (Mitchell Starc) is almost 400, so hopefully I don’t feel like I’m going to end anytime soon.

“But the medical staff, I really need to thank them for the way they looked after me in the early years and continually to get me through a Test match.”

If his long-term future sounds promising, for the moment he’s only concentrating on keeping his perfect record in global finals intact, and he looks to again be the key man as South Africa chase a total that he hopes will be as high as 250.

Australia currently lead by 218 with two wickets remaining. Even that could be enough should he slip straight back into the same groove.

Former Test opener Matthew Hayden, for one, wouldn’t fancy trying to chase down that sort of score with Cummins leading the charge.

“To me, he’s the good guy who flies under the radar somewhat but, personally, I would have liked least to face Pat Cummins of all the Australian quicks,” mused the mighty southpaw.

“He’s a magnificent bowler, particularly to left-handers. A wonderful athlete, 100 per cent quality, the premier bowler in this era.”