Australia fast-bowler Pat Cummins has said playing the longer format of the game is every cricketers’ priority and it will take some time for him to settle as a Test bowler.
“I think that’s where a lot of my great memories were made and the toughest competitions happened. So I would love to get the chance to get back into that and see where we go from there,” Cummins said.
Cummins said he is shaping up nicely and getting better with every game which is a good feeling.
“I feel really consistent. I don’t feel like I have to break the speed barrier every time I bowl. I just feel like I’m in a really good place. I feel like my action, where I’m landing the ball, is so much more consistent than where I have been in the past,” Cummins revealed.
Cummins is expected to join New South Wales (NSW) for Shield games after returning from New Zealand’s 50-over tour.
“I can’t really say anything or know anything until I play at least one [Sheffield] Shield game. For me, it’s get through these ODIs and it’s great I can bowl heaps of overs in competitive matches, and then I’d love to play just a shield game or two before even being put in that position [playing Test cricket],” Cummins expressed.
Australia will play a three-match One-Day International series under the captaincy of wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade, which will kick-start on Monday.
“I think one of the biggest challenges when you haven’t played for a while is trying to keep the excitement levels down,” Cummins added.
The Sydney-born right-arm bowler Cummins has credited New South Wales mentors for helping him out throughout the season despite a long lay-off from injury.
“I think taking a bit more time leading into the season has probably given me a chance to, I think, relax,” Cummins further said.
The 23-year-old fast-bowler, who made his Test debut in 2011 against South Africa at the age of 19, suffered stress fracture before returning to the domestic cricket after 15 months.
“Red ball is always the end goal. I haven’t played a shield game in quite a few years and I’m just itching to get back into the baggy blue and, hopefully, I get the chance to do that this year,” Cummins said.
In his only Test, he bagged seven wickets with best figures of 6 for 79 at Johannesburg.
“I think just backing a really nice, even run-up with a good rhythm has made everything more consistent. I put that down to a lot of pre-season work with D.K. Lillee, but also Geoff Lawson and the coaches at NSW,” concluded Cummins.
Cummins has appeared in 26 ODIs for Australia, in which he has bagged 48 wickets and an average of 24.77.
After playing his last ODI series against England in 2015, injured-marred Cummins returned to play the ODI series against New Zealand in December last year.