Cummins optimistic comeback will stick

Nearing five years since he made one of the most memorable Test debuts in memory, luckless speedster Pat Cummins says pulling on the Baggy Green again remains his long-term focus as he prepares to make his latest comeback from injury.

Cummins, who confirmed last month he will return to cricket in the upcoming Matador One-Day Cup for his first outing since he was diagnosed with a serious back injury 12 months ago, says he wouldn't change anything about his lengthy preparation for the coming season.

Quick Single: Cummins confirms Matador comeback

The right-armer's stunning Test debut against South Africa in 2011 remains his only Test to date having been plagued by a string of serious injuries since then.

That Test in Johannesburg remains one of just eight first-class matches he's played in his career, a tally he's confident he'll add to for the NSW Blues this summer.

And looking further ahead, Cummins says the lure of a Test return remains as strong as ever.

"The long-term goal is to still play a lot of Test cricket," Cummins told cricket.com.au.

"Obviously getting back to playing first-class cricket is the short-term goal, and even shorter is the Matador Cup and a couple of one-dayers (for Australia) this summer.

"At the moment it's about getting comfortable in my body, finding form and then building up slowly.

"And then one day I'd love to be out there in the Baggy Green again."

Quick Single: Cummins back in action for the Blues

And after so many false starts on his quest to regain his Test spot, Cummins says the 2016 off-season has him confident that this summer will bring with it an extended stretch of good health.

The 23-year-old was withdrawn from the recent Winter A Series in Queensland as Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW took a cautious approach with a bowler who, on his day, is one of the fastest and most potent in the world.

And he says the steady-as-it-goes approach over the winter months will hold him in good stead for the summer.

"I've been bowling for six months now and it's the first time in four or five years where I've felt like I could just have a really slow, gradual build-up," he said.

"And if it feels good one week, that's great and we can progress a bit quicker. If it doesn't, we can just take our time.

"I'm 100 per cent happy with where I'm at at the moment. Hopefully it all goes well and if it doesn't, I don't think I'd change anything looking back. I'm just excited to get underway.

"The body is great, the action is great, everything feels good."

Cummins added he was unsure if he'd be able to bowl with his trademark pace throughout the summer, having not been tested by a speed gun during the pre-season.

Blues assistant coach Geoff Lawson, who has overseen Cummins' return to the crease, has high hopes for his young tyro, even if the genuine express pace doesn't return straight away.

"Whether or not he'll bowl 150(kph), I'm not too sure," Lawson told cricket.com.au last month.

"As long as he comes back a quality bowler.

"He'll bowl into the 140s and he'll have the quality and experience to go with it.

"So it's not just about the speed. It's about what he's learnt over the years and all the things it takes to be a good fast bowler, but I think the expectations and hopes are pretty high."