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Pat Cummins vs Imran Khan Test Bowler: Who is Better?

The Pat Cummins vs Imran Khan debate is a favorite among cricket fans. Imran combined fierce pace with bold leadership, playing a key role in turning Pakistan into a world-class Test side during the 1980s. Cummins, on the other hand, is calm and steady. Since becoming Australia’s captain, he has led with quiet confidence and has already won major Test trophies like the World Test Championship and the Ashes (retained). While they played in very different eras, both are admired for the way they balanced being top-class bowlers with the demands of captaincy.

Umaima Saeed
Umaima Saeed

Last updated: 2025-07-03

Chad Nagel

5 minutes read

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Pat Cummins of Australia acknowledges the crowd after taking 5 for during day two

Pat Cummins of Australia acknowledges the crowd after taking 5 for during day two

SB Market Index – Cummins vs. Imran Khan Who Wins?

To settle the Pat Cummins vs Imran Khan Test bowler debate, we at SportsBoom used a system called the SB Market Index which combines two main things: their actual Test bowling numbers (called the SB Score) and how they are viewed by the cricket world today (called Industry Insights). Stats count for 20%, and expert opinion counts for 80% in this system.

Industry Insights

This section finds out how often each player is mentioned in respected rankings, articles, or lists about great Test bowlers - Test cricket fast bowling analysis often includes such mentions.

SourcePat CumminsImran Khan
Wisden1—
Stat Sensei1—
ICC Test Rankings11
McGrath1—
CricBlog1—
Sportskeeda1—
Wikipedia1—
Stat Sensei on Imran—1
Total Mentions72
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SB Score – Key Stats

The SB score focuses on key Test stats like wickets taken, bowling average, economy rate, strike rate, and how often the bowler picks up five or 10 wickets in a match. Imran Khan vs Pat Cummins stats show that Imran Khan leads this section slightly. He has taken more wickets and has more five-wicket and ten-wicket hauls but Cummins has a better strike rate and average. 

SB Score – Key Stats

PlayerMatWktsAveEconSR4w5w10wSB Score
Cummins6830122.202.9045.9171420.92147
Imran Khan8836222.812.5453.7172360.94573
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SB Market Index

RankPlayerSB Score Industry InsightsSB Market Index
1Pat Cummins0.9214775.784294
2Imran Khan0.9457321.789146
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The Contenders: A Look at Two Fast Bowlers Who Have Made a Big Impact in Test Cricket

Imran Khan (Pakistan)

Pakistan and its factory of fast bowlers is a well-documented story. But among the many fast bowling greats produced by the country, one name that stands out is Imran Khan - he was not just a great bowler but also one of their best captains. The former Pakistan captain was known for his pace, swing, and reverse-swinging yorker. He had the ability to generate sharp movement off the pitch, especially with the old ball. Known for his reverse swing in the later years of his career, Imran was a genuine match-winner with the ball. He still remains the all-time third-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in Tests, only behind Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. 

Pat Cummins (Australia)

Pat Cummins has been a pillar of Australia’s bowling attack since his return from injury which kept him out of Test cricket for over five years. With a high release, consistent pace, and the ability to hit the same spot over after over, Cummins brings relentless pressure on batters. What makes him stand out is his ability to strike with the new ball and also come back strong in long spells. Even though Cummins has been at the helm of the team since 2021, the additional work pressure has not affected his bowling much. He is currently one of the top fast bowlers in the modern game, especially lethal with the new ball. His Pat Cummins Test bowling average (22.20) reflects his accuracy and control, making him a standout in modern-day cricket.

Concluding Thoughts on Two Fast Bowling Greats

When it comes to the question – best Test fast bowler Cummins or Imran – SportsBoom’s final ranking is in favour of the Australian captain Pat Cummins, largely due to his dominant score in the ‘Industry Insights’ section. 
While Imran Khan scores more in the statistical ‘SB Score’ due to his superior wicket count and greater number of five- and ten-wicket hauls, Cummins’s strong expert and media backing gave him a big win in the final outcome.

However, both Imran Khan and Pat Cummins are widely regarded as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time. Both belong to different eras – both have played different oppositions and have had different playing styles, but both cricketers are seen as match-winners who set the tone with the ball. Their names are often seen and heard in any meaningful impact Test bowlers comparison or cricket legends fast bowling discussion.
Cricket fans and bettors often look at things like current form, past performances, and pitch conditions when judging who is better bowler Cummins Imran Khan or who might take more wickets in a Test match.

Disclaimer – This analysis uses verified career statistics and a specific weighted model incorporating 'Industry Insights'. Different methodologies, weightings, or sources for market perception could yield different conclusions. This is for illustrative and discussion purposes.

Umaima Saeed
Umaima SaeedSports Writer

Umaima Saeed is a professional sports writer whose articles have been featured in several leading websites. She writes long-form content on sports, particularly cricket. She has a penchant for telling human-interest stories. Umaima has contributed articles on cricket to more than a dozen publications, both in print and online.