Australia vs New Zealand Boxing Day Test day three summary:

Pat Cummins’ bowling masterclass cemented his spot atop the rankings as he drove a dagger right through the heart of New Zealand.

Australia are well on top of the Test match heading into day four, leading by 456, sitting 4/128 at stumps.

Pat Cummins and the Aussie quicks decimated the Kiwis, bowling them out for 148.

While many expected the side to send the hapless New Zealand side back in, Australia decided to bat again with plenty of time still left in the game and a world record chase in front of the Kiwis.

'Simply Ridiculous': Cummins' A$4.1m A Bargain

He’s already the number one Test match bowler in the world but Pat Cummins is increasing his legend with another brilliant performance in the Boxing Day Test.

Cummins and his pace brethren dismantled New Zealand’s top order on the morning of day three.

But it was the 26-year-old who tasted the glory, removing Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls in his second over.

The 26-year-old finished the first innings with the stellar figures of 5/28 off 17 overs, and is slowly cementing himself as Australia’s best bowler since Glenn McGrath.

But after going for a record $3.2 million in the IPL auction last week, his new coach Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendan McCullum has admitted it was a bargain and than he would have gone up to $4.1m.

Of all Australian cricketers to have bowled at least 2000 Test deliveries since World War II, Cummins’ bowling average of 21.58 is the third best, behind Alan Davidson (20.53) and Ernie Toshack (21.04).

The right-armed paceman also has the best strike rate of any Australian bowler since WWII, taking a Test wicket every 46.4 deliveries.

On the all-time ICC bowling rankings, Cummins is ranked equal fifth alongside McGrath, behind only turn of the 20th century stars Sydney Barnes and George Lohmann, as well as Imran Khan and Muttiah Muralidaran.

He’s also just one wicket away from taking 100 international wickets for 2019, where he would become just the sixth Aussie to reach the mark.

He’s also taken a liking to the Boxing Day Test, having now taken 18 wickets at 13.55, one of the best averages in the modern era at the ground.

Bizarrely, when Cummins removed Nicholls, it was his first LBW dismissal in his past 70 Test wickets dating back to March 2018 against South Africa in Johannesburg.

In 2019, Cummins has claimed 59 Test wickets at 19.33, the most scalps of the calendar year with England’s Stuart Broad next best on 43.

It was also his first five-wicket haul since January.

“I feel like I’ve been bowling really well, especially in Perth I was happy with how they come out, I didn’t get the wickets but we’ve been winning so I’ve been happy,” he told Fox Cricket. “It’s always a little bit sweeter when there are a few wickets.”

He’s already outpacing Glenn McGrath after 29 Tests.

McGrath was gracious about Cummins' record setting pace.

“How much has he deserved this?” he said on Channel 7. “He’s been bowling exceptionally well this whole summer, really. That’s why he’s the No.1 bowler in the world.

“How well has he bowled this innings? He’s been quick, he’s been on the money, there’s been no bad balls at all. He’s on fire.”

Kiwi Disaster Gets Even Worse:

New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult fractured his non-bowling hand Saturday and will miss the third Test against Australia in a big blow for the Black Caps.

The veteran, who has only just returned from injury, was struck on the glove by a Mitchell Starc bouncer late in New Zealand’s first innings 148 on day three of the second Test in Melbourne.

He needed medical attention but bowled in Australia’s second innings. “Trent Boult will return home to New Zealand following the second Test after suffering a fracture to the second-metacarpal of his right hand,” a team spokesman said. “He will require around four weeks of rehabilitation.” A replacement is yet to be announced.

It was a bitter pill for Boult who missed New Zealand’s last two Tests, against England and Australia, with a rib injury.

“Obviously gutting news for Trent and for our group to have someone like that ruled out with his injury. Disappointing,” said New Zealand opener Tom Latham.

Even worse for New Zealand, the number 11 shared in the second best partnership of the innings.