World T20 unlikely: Cummins

Australia speedster Pat Cummins says an extended stay on the sidelines will almost certainly rule him out of contention for next year’s ICC World T20 tournament in India.

"I think the T20 World Cup might be a little too tight at the moment, I’d probably have to rush back for that," Cummins told cricket.com.au.

"I’d love to be back for it but it’s probably an outside chance, the main thing is just to not rush anything if it’s at risk of coming back."

Cummins, who suffered a lower lumbar bone stress fracture during Australia’s Qantas Tour of the British Isles in September, said he would have loved to have vied for one of the fast bowling spots in Australia’s current squad.

"It’s really disappointing (to not be available for selection), with Mitchell Johnson retiring a couple of weeks ago it’s another chance for somebody to step up.

"Obviously I would’ve liked it to be me but it’s great that we have depth and a few new guys coming into the squad, hopefully that’ll be me in a few months’ time."

Cummins hasn’t played a Test since his debut against South Africa in November 2011, where he claimed 6-79 and hit the winning runs in a man-of-the-match performance. 

WATCH: Cummins takes career-best against England

Speaking at the Under-19 National Championships in Adelaide where he will deliver an address to the competing players, the 22-year-old also looks set to miss the remainder of the domestic season, including the KFC Big Bash League where he is signed with the Sydney Thunder.

Cummins has spent his time off the field in rehabilitation with the Bupa Support Team and says his recovery is tracking well.

"I’m just over two months in to a pretty lengthy recovery for my back, hopefully early next year I’ll be right to go," he said. 

"It’s all on track, there’s nothing to worry about but it just takes a bit of time.

"Immediately it’s been strength work and Pilates, but it’s also about rest and making sure the bone heals and then the next couple of months are fine tuning a few things but nothing too drastic."

Cummins will look to return to bowling through the Indian Premier League in mid-2016 with his side, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The news comes after national selector Rod Marsh said Test spearhead and world No.1 one-day bowler Mitchell Starc is likely to miss the rest of the Australian summer, the way series in New Zealand and potentially the World T20. 

"It’s pretty hard being a humble selector becoming a doctor and telling people when to have surgery, so we don’t really get involved in that," Marsh said in Adelaide today. 

"In an ideal world once again we’d love to have Mitchell Starc playing against New Zealand in the Test series (in February) – I don’t think that will happen. 

"In an ideal world we’d like to have him playing in the (T20) World Cup – it may happen. 

"But if it’s two different lots of surgery then we mightn’t see much of Mitchell for a little while and we’ve got to think of the kid’s health and the medical people will always keep that in mind so he’ll be back when he’s back."