Cummins targets more rest after missing out on T20 World Cup
Pat Cummins reveals how close he came to making the cut for Australia at the T20 World Cup.
Australia's pace spearhead Pat Cummins has outlined how close he came to being a part of the Aussies' ICC Men's T20 World Cup campaign as the fast bowler targets a return from injury for a gruelling Test schedule at the backend of the year.
Pat Cummins takes a hat-trick against Bangladesh | T20WC 2024
Pat Cummins takes a hat-trick against Bangladesh | T20WC 2024
Cummins was left out of Australia's final squad of 15 for the T20 World Cup that commences on February 7 due to a lingering back complaint, with the right-armer revealing how a minor setback during his recovery led to his omission.
"It was really unfortunate," Cummins told Australian Associated Press.
"I feel pretty good, just a minor setback and just ran out of time really.
"I'll rest up for a few weeks and go from there.
"We knew after the (Adelaide) Test match we were going to need somewhere between four and eight weeks to let the bone settle right down before then building back up.
"Initially, we thought it might only be four weeks, because I was feeling really good, but just had a follow-up scan.
"They thought it probably needs another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight."
Both of Pat Cummins' hat-tricks at T20WC 2024
After a hat-trick against Bangladesh, Cummins followed it up with yet another hat-trick against Afghanistan
Cummins is hopeful of being fit to feature for Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League that gets underway at the end of March, but wants to ensure he is fit for a hectic ICC World Test Championship campaign in the back half of this year.
The Aussies are scheduled to play a two-Test series at home against Bangladesh and three Tests away in South Africa prior to the end of October, before four games against New Zealand and five with India all before the end of the current cycle.
"We thought the first half of the year was a pretty good time to be conservative with the amount of cricket that's coming up," Cummins noted.
"We'll get it right, then hopefully that will mean you won't have to worry about it, and you can just go out and play all those Test matches.
"Whereas, if you're not careful with it now and it flares up, you're chasing your tail a bit."
Skipper Cummins sparkles for AUS with a six-for | Player Highlights | WTC25 Final
Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with a sensational six-for to secure as Australia secured a first-innings lead.
Despite a recent T20I series loss to Pakistan and injury concerns to a host of key players, Australia are still among the favourites to win the upcoming T20 World Cup where they will take on Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman and co-hosts Sri Lanka in Group B fixtures.
Cummins believes the series loss in Pakistan is not a true indication of the talent in Australia's side and expects to see them perform well in India and Sri Lanka.
"It wasn't our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys coming back from injury for the World Cup," Cummins said.
"Morale is good. Chatting to a few of the boys from afar ... they know how big it is, they're desperate to get started and get into it."