Late entrant Cummins ready for comeback in Ranchi
Pat Cummins might not have been in the Australian squad for the third and fourth Tests against India had James Pattinson not opted out. Pattinson, the original choice, had told Cricket Australia to ignore him as injured Mitchell Starc’s replacement as he feared aggravating past injuries.
His decision saw the recall of Cummins, who too faces fitness concerns. In fact, Cummins could find a place in Baggy Greens’ pace attack ahead of original squad member Jackson Bird. He made his Test debut as a teenager against South Africa in 2011. He impressed, winning the player of the match award in Johannesburg but suffered several injuries soon after.
Stress fractures to his back, feet and ribs kept him out of the side and required recovery plans that had to be carefully followed. Most recently, he suffered a lower lumbar fracture during Australia’s tour of England in 2015. The injury kept him out of action for more than a year.
He returned to the ODI side earlier this year during the fivematch series against Pakistan and then visited New Zealand for a three-match series.
He returned to first-class cricket last week, playing for New South Wales in the domestic Sheffield Shield. It was his first big match with the red ball in five years and he fared superbly, taking eight wickets and scoring 42 runs in the lower order. But while Pattinson opted out of selection, Cummins welcomes the challenge even though he wasn’t initially planning on it.
The right-arm pacer had targeted the 2018 Ashes series for his comeback. However, he says he is as fit as he has ever been to take on the Indian side. “I knew I was in standbyes for this tour a couple of months ago, but thought the (first-choice) bowlers wouldn’t bowl too many overs and not get injured,” Cummins said ahead of his first training session with the squad in Ranchi.
“I always had an eye on the Ashes next (summer), thinking that I had to play three or four (Sheffield) Shield games to put my hand up for selection. So it’s certainly come a lot quicker, but I always thought I’d get back here. It feels like so much has happened in five or six years. But I think since that day (when he made his Test debut), this is easily the most prepared that I’ve been for a Test match.”
While questions arise over his fitness, Cummins is not too concerned as he feels pacers will be in limited demand in India.
HE RETURNED TO THE ODI SIDE EARLIER THIS YEAR DURING THE SERIES V PAKISTAN, THEN VISITED NEW ZEALAND FOR A THREEMATCH SERIES