Australia's 600-wicket quartet signals sustained selection philosophy
Australia's pace-spin quartet reached 600 Test wickets together in Durban, underlining a selection approach that values experience and cohesion over youth.
Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood became the first quartet in Test history to take 600 wickets together during the first Test against South Africa in Durban. The milestone came on day three when the four bowlers dismissed South Africa for 284, giving Australia a 106-run first-innings lead.
Lyon, 38, said he is in the best shape of his career after giving up alcohol for nine months and increasing his fitness work. He has targeted playing until at least the end of the 2027 Ashes, which would make him Australia's oldest frontline bowler since Bill O'Reilly in 1948.
The four bowlers have now played 38 Tests together, far exceeding the previous record of 415 wickets by Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes. Australia reached stumps on day three at 33 without loss, extending their lead to 139 runs.
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The quartet's combined workload has produced results in overseas conditions that younger, less integrated attacks have struggled to match, suggesting the pay-off from keeping experienced units intact outweighs the short-term benefit of blooding replacements.