Cummins ruled out of Bangladesh tour

Fast bowler Patrick Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming Qantas Tour of Bangladesh due to a stress fracture in his back.

Cricket Australia says the 22-year-old faces a lengthy rehabilitation process and it is unclear when he will be able to return to the bowling crease.

Cummins has been plagued by serious injuries throughout his young career, including a back stress fracture that forced him out of the entire 2012-13 summer.

He returned to first-class cricket with Australia A in July 2013, but suffered a recurrence of the injury and missed the first half of the 2013-14 domestic season.

"Pat Cummins experienced lower back pain during the last ODI match in the UK and this pain continued upon his return to Australia," said Cricket Australia physiotherapist David Beakley.

"He subsequently underwent an MRI scan yesterday which unfortunately has revealed a new early stage lumbar bone stress fracture.

"Consequently Pat will be unable to participate in the Bangladesh Test series and will now enter into a lengthy rehabilitation program."

Cummins has been replaced in Australia's squad for the Bangladesh series by allrounder James Faulkner.

The NSW quick played his one and only Test to date in South Africa almost four years ago and appeared to be poised to return to the Test arena in the coming months.

He was part of Australia's squad during the Ashes campaign and was one of four frontline quicks named for the tour of Bangladesh.

His latest injury is another devastating setback, especially as he appeared to be returning to his best form during the one-day leg of Australia's UK tour.

Watch: Cummins takes career-best figures at Headingley

Speaking after his selection in the initial Test squad earlier this month, Cummins was confident his body was ready to withstand the rigours of Test cricket.

"I felt as ready as I have been throughout the Ashes," he told cricket.com.au.

"I played a few first-class games and felt really good so I was itching to get a game. Unfortunately it didn't come through so hopefully I'll get a chance in Bangladesh."

Cummins speaks earlier this month about his Test selection

Selector Rod Marsh lamented that Cummins had again been forced out with injury, while he also welcomed Faulkner back into the Test squad.

"This is really unfortunate for Pat and I know how disappointed he will be," Marsh said.

"He is a young bowler with a bright future for Australia and we were really pleased with how he bowled in the UK.

"We have opted to replace him with James Faulkner.

"James comes back into the Australia Test side having only played the one Test, but he is an exciting young bowler who could be very handy in the conditions we are likely to see in Bangladesh."

Faulkner returns to the national set-up having missed the ODI series in England after he was charged with drink-driving in Manchester in July.

The 25-year-old is a regular in Australia's limited overs sides, while his sole Test to date came in the fifth Test of the 2013 Ashes series.