Pat Cummins politely ignores Jimmy Anderson’s brutal comparison ahead of SA vs AUS 2025 WTC final [Watch]

Australia captain Pat Cummins calmly brushed aside James Anderson's comments comparing him to South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada ahead of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC). The two red-hot speedsters are among the best red-ball bowlers of this generation and lead their respective bowling units for the summit clash at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground, beginning from June 11 onwards.

During the press conference on the eve of the contest, a reporter informed Pat Cummins that James Anderson saw both teams train and rated Rabada ahead of him. When asked for his opinion, the Australian skipper issued a trademark nonchalant response with a smile, leading to a chorus of laughs among the reporters.

"Cool...no worries," Cummins said (via ABC Sport).

Have a look at the interaction right here:

There is not much to separate Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins from a statistical viewpoint. Both modern greats have picked up a combined total of 621 wickets in Test cricket, dominating the last decade. The South African speedster has played only three Tests more than his Australian counterpart, while there is only a negligible difference between their astounding bowling averages.

"Kagiso Rabada is one of my favourite bowlers to watch" - James Anderson

The former England pacer had reserved praise for Kagiso Rabada ahead of the WTC Final, highlighting the importance of his match-up against Australian ace batter, Steve Smith.

Although the former Australian skipper boasts a dominant record at Lord's, averaging 58.33 in five matches, his record against Rabada is shaky. The right-arm pacer has dismissed Smith four times in 15 Test innings, while the right-handed batter has scored 128 runs at an average of 32 in return.

"The main one for me will be Rabada against Steve Smith, and I think that could be a really good, interesting battle. Steve Smith is one of the best batters in the world and Kagiso Rabada is one of my favourite bowlers to watch. He's got so many attributes that just make me want to tune into the TV and watch him. He's a fantastic player, so I'm really looking forward to that battle," Anderson said during an interaction at the DP World Beyond Boundaries event at Lord's on Monday (via Sports Illustrated).

Both Rabada and Cummins have a staggering record at Lord's, having played two Test matches each. The Proteas spearhead has taken 13 wickets at an average of 19.38, while the Australian skipper has 10 wickets at an average of 21.10.