PAT CUMMINS LIFTS THE LID ON HOW HE PLANS TO BOUNCE BACK FROM INJURY AFTER T20 WORLD CUP SETBACK

Pat Cummins has revealed that a 'minor setback' in his ongoing recovery from a back injury forced him to withdraw from this year's T20 World Cup.

Cummins has made only one appearance for his national side across all formats in the past six months due to a lumbar bone stress injury. That match came when he turned out for the Baggy Greens during their 82-run victory against England in Adelaide.

The fast bowler had raced back to be fit for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, but after his side swept the tourists away in a mere 11 days, selectors reasoned that there was no point in risking further injury to Cummins, opting to rest him for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

After his side sealed a 4-1 Ashes victory, the 32-year-old had been hopeful of returning to action for the T20 World Cup and had been named in Australia's provisional squad. However, due to the setback, Cummins has since been replaced by Ben Dwarshuis, stating that he was gutted to miss out.

'It was really unfortunate,' Amazon Prime Video ambassador, Cummins, told AAP on Tuesday.

'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 I just had a follow-up scan.

'They thought it probably needed another couple of weeks, so the timeline just became a bit too tight.'

With a huge year of cricket coming up, the pace bowler said he wanted to give the injury enough time to heal once and for all.

'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,' the 32-year-old said.

'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 tail a bit.'

Cummins has struggled with recurring back injuries throughout his career, with the 32-year-old making his Test debut in 2011, but would not return to play red ball cricket for Australia until 2017, due to multiple back stress fractures.

Another back injury would later force him out of the 2018 IPL season.

The IPL will recommence on March 26 this year, and Cummins is set to captain the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

'We'll just be guided by my back,' he said.

'We'll have another scan in a few weeks, and if it's good, then we'll have a slow build-up.

'T20s are a little bit easier to get up for (than Tests), that's why I was so close to getting up for this World Cup.'

Australia, meanwhile, have endured a torrid time in their preparations for the T20 World Cup, with Mitchell Marsh's side having suffered three straight defeats by Pakistan in their warm-up series. The last of those losses included a 111-run defeat, in which Pakistan raced away to post a monster 207-run total in the first innings. 

'It wasn't our greatest few games (in Pakistan), but the guys are coming off a strong Big Bash, and a couple of guys are 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.'

Australia will be without star fast bowler Mitchell Starc for the World Cup, but there is some optimism that Josh Hazlewood will be fit to play in the second part of the tournament.

The Aussie pace bowler missed the entire Ashes series after he pulled up before the tournament with a hamstring strain. It was later confirmed that the 35-year-old had also sustained an Achilles injury during his recovery.

'I caught up with Josh a couple of days ago and he's working so hard. I really feel for him - he's had a few setbacks,' Cummins told Nine.

'He's doing everything he can. I don't think he will be there for the start of the tournament, but he's trying his best to be there about halfway through.'

Hazlewood will continue his rehabilitation in Sydney until he is ready to play.

Australia begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 11.  

All matches will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video.

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2026-02-03T15:01:15Z