CUMMINS IN PUSH FOR JOB SECURITY

AUSTRALIA rates Pat Cummins as the best player in the country but has declined to put its money where his future is.

Cummins has revealed his request for the security of a multi-season central contract from Cricket Australia was rejected at the negotiating table earlier this year.

However, Cummins could force a policy change in 2020 after the ironman quick backed up for all five Ashes Tests this winter to illustrate the argument of the fast bowling cartel that they deserve consideration for more financial insurance due to the fact they put their bodies on the line to an extent not required by other cricketers.

Cricket Australia declared yesterday that selectors and newly appointed high performance boss Ben Oliver would review its strict current policy on only offering oneyear deals ahead of the next contract roll-out.

CA has rated Cummins the No.1 player in the country for the second year running, making him their $2 million highest-paid player.

But the 26-year-old knows better than most how quickly fortunes can change due to the physical strain of the job and admits to feeling vulnerable because his profession puts him at the mercy of longterm injury.

“No it didn’t happen this year. They just said they weren’t offering anyone longer term (deals) this year,” Cummins said of a push that has so far fallen on deaf ears.“I hope (it changes in the future). You can only ask the question and see what comes of it. Like anyone in your job, you want more than 12 months security always.”

Unlike their batting counterparts, Cummins and fellow spearheads Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have been forced to forgo millions in Indian Premier League payments due to the need to prioritise recuperating their bodies for Australian duties in the baggy green. It’s understood CA were reluctant to change the status quo this year at a time when the new high performance roles were yet to be filled, after Pat Howard’s sacking last summer.

CA has been unwilling to make exceptions to their policy of making its players fight for contracts every 12 months, but that will now be subject to a comprehensive review and could now change.

That said, CA did continue to support Cummins on a central contract for many of the years he spent injured, recognising the limitless impact he could have in the future.