Injuries and Pat Cummins often go hand in hand, as the promising Australian pacer has never had a smooth ride in his international career. The pacer burst onto the scene as a promising teenage pace sensation, who was the most promising youngster way back in late 2011. The pace prodigy was also termed as Australia’s future in fast bowling by several renowned greats. But rather, injuries took a toll on him and year after year, the same sorry tale followed him.
Now, though, Cummins is well on the path to recovery from a back injury and has been named in the Australia A squad for a quadrangular series scheduled later this year. Cummins was among the 24 individuals named in the series and a good outing there, could also book his berth for the Sri Lanka tour. “Pat is tracking along nicely in his recovery from his long-term injury and we are hopeful he will be available for the one-day matches in this series,” said chief selector Rod Marsh. “However, we will be guided by medical staff on his return.”
Cummins in his interview with cricket.com.au admitted that injuries had toughened his path. “It’s all about trying to work out a goal. I still get to come into Cricket NSW and train every day and be around cricket,” he said. “So it’s still a pretty good job and lifestyle.”It’s each little win, each little step – being back in the gym for the first time, back running or having my first bowl – trying to get to that next goal. “But certainly the more breaks I’ve had the harder it’s gotten,” said Cummins.
“It’s great for me, James Pattinson, a couple of us young bowlers who have had a few injuries, that Cricket Australia really look after us. They give us good support and they don’t rush us back. In terms of me wanting to rush back, they’re more patient than I am, so I’m pretty lucky,” he added.
“I spent the last off-season with the Ashes squad and the ODI squad and the World Cup before that, so I went from being full-time on tour to sitting at home watching cricket. So it was pretty hard but obviously, it’s great now to have an upcoming tour,” Cummins concluded.