Cummins ready to fire up in Matador Cup

Fast bowler Pat Cummins has declared himself fit and ready for the summer-opening Matador BBQs One-Day Cup domestic competition after a lengthy rehabilitation from back stress fractures.

Cummins last played for Australia in September 2015 in a one-day match against England, after which he was diagnosed with a lower lumbar bone stress fracture.

He had been expected to make his return to cricket with the ongoing Australia A winter series in north Queensland, but was pulled out of that competition to focus on getting right for the domestic season.

The result is the 23-year-old speedster who has been plagued by recurring back injuries, now says he will be "as well prepared as I ever have been" for the 50-over competition.

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"It was unfortunate to miss Australia A but a chance to have a bit more of a pre-season and a bit more control and a slower build up towards the Matador Cup, so I know that when I do play Matador I've tried everything and done everything in the nets and training that I wanted to, to get ready for games and I'm not rushing back," Cummins said on the Cricket NSW website today.

"I feel like come game one of Matador I'll be as well prepared as I ever have been for a tournament."

NSW open their Matador Cup campaign on October 7 at Bankstown against the CA XI developmental side. The tournament will have started a week prior with games in Queensland, while Perth also hosts several fixtures this year.

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Cummins had spent several "lonely" months in rehab but is now revelling being part of the full NSW Blues squad.

He returned to bowling in February and had been hoping for selection to the senior side's winter tours of the Caribbean and Sri Lanka.

Initially starting with a run-up of just a few steps, Cummins has been steadily building up his bowling loads. And while his progress had pleased CA's medical staff, a cautious approach saw him pulled from the Australia A series amid concern he was not at the required level of fitness or intensity to play competitive international cricket.

"The first probably six months I was doing a lot of rehab in the gym, lonely hours," Cummins said.

"The past couple of months bowling on turf, bowling towards a full run-up, it just feels like I'm getting ready for a normal season, which is nice.

"Now we're closer to the Matador and competition, it's about trying to find some form, try a few slower balls and yorkers, and other things.

"I couldn't be happier with how they're coming out and just can't wait to get a game."

The tearaway quick still boasts just the one Test to his name, and only eight first-class matches, as he continues to be carefully managed by CA amid the injuries with a strict 'white-ball only' policy.

Cummins told cricket.com.au in May he was confident of retaining the sort of 150kph pace that separated him from the vast majority of fast bowlers, but conceded that the mental challenges of rehab were becoming increasingly difficult with each injury.

"It's all about trying to work out a goal. I still get to come in (to 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.

"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."