Cummins optimistic despite setback

Fast bowler Patrick Cummins says he is confident of returning stronger than ever after being ruled out of the upcoming Qantas Tour of Bangladesh due to a stress fracture in his back.

The 22-year-old, who has been plagued by serious injuries throughout his young career, now faces a lengthy rehabilitation process but says he will set his sights on returning for Australia’s World T20 campaign next March.

“Towards the end of the one-day international series (against England) I felt a little bit of a niggle,” Cummins said at the Cricket NSW season launch last night.

“I rested for a week and hoped I’d be right for Bangladesh but I had a scan and unfortunately it was not a great result.”

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A back stress fracture forced Cummins out of the entire 2012-13 summer and while he returned to first-class cricket with Australia A in July 2013, he suffered a recurrence of the injury and missed the first half of the 2013-14 domestic season.

Asked if he was concerned about suffering the complaint for a third time, Cummins said it was “almost the opposite”.

“The last (injuries) were back to back, but this time I have been bowling for two years,” he said.

“The physio admitted he was worried two years ago but now he’s not worried at all.

“I think I’ve bowled every week bar two or three in the last two years, which is pretty promising at this stage.”

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Cummins said while the reality of another major injury setback and lengthy stint of rehabilitation had yet to sink in, he was determined to look on the bright side.

“The nature of a back injury like this is that it’s a little bit painful for the first couple of weeks.

“After that you still have a fracture in there but you don’t feel that injured, so it’s a matter of being patient even when you feel like you’re ready to go.

“But it’s a common injury that’s easily managed so we can map out a plan early on and there aren’t many surprises.

“I think for the next couple of months I won’t be doing much. I know there’s a World T20 early next year and that’s certainly on the radar.”

When he does return, Cummins is confident he will be able to replicate the form that saw him collect career-best figures of 4-49 in the fourth ODI against England and consistently clock speeds above 145kph.

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“It’s not a great result but the most pleasing thing was I bowled really well over in England,” Cummins said.

“It’s a setback but I’ll certainly get back to where I was or even better.”

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.