Australia's bowling attack is being tossed up as one of the great modern combinations, but it is Pat Cummins' batting that has coach Darren Lehmann talking after their Ashes success.
The New South Welshman finished with a flurry to top the series wicket tally, bowling the most overs of any Australian quick in a positive sign his once-fragile body is beginning to handle the rigours of Test cricket.
But when asked to review his young fast bowler's performance, it was a batting average of 41.5, not his 23 wickets, that Lehmann referred to first.
Pre-series demands for more runs were appeased by Cummins, who had three scores in the 40s including a crucial partnership with captain Steve Smith to steady the ship at the Gabba.
"Certainly with the bat, we challenged Pat at the start of the summer to make more runs, and he's done that five-fold and exceeded our expectations," Lehmann said.
"With the ball, we know he's always had the potential and he can certainly run through a batting line-up."
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Cummins each took more than 20 wickets in the series, just the third time all four bowlers have done so in Test history.
That has ultimately led to comparisons between this attack and famous combinations of the past, Lehmann agreeing the hype was deserved.
"The certainly have the potential to be," Lehmann said when asked if they could be the best attack he'd coached.
"(Ryan) Harris, (Peter) Siddle, (Mitchell) Johnson and Lyon were pretty good four years ago, but these guys are younger - they've got the appetite to be great.
"And the way they've done it; the last two wickets were a little bit slow and low ... the first three had some pace and bounce in them, but they adapted to those conditions really well."
South Africa awaits the Test team in March, the Proteas boasting a formidable attack to rival Australia's.
While South Africa embarrassed the hosts to begin the last summer, Australia have some happy memories of a 2-1 win on their last visit in 2013-14.
"Shaun Marsh made a great hundred last time we were there at Centurion," Lehmann reminisced.
"South Africa are a tough opponent; we'll have to play well - there's no doubt about that. We'll have to bat really well."
Share
