Ryan Harris tips Pat Cummins to make up for lost time when he returns to action for Australia A in July
Cummins' potential 'frightening': Harris
Former Test spearhead Ryan Harris says Pat Cummins' potential is "frightening" after helping the fit-again speedster overcome his latest injury setback.
Cummins is set to make another comeback after being named in an Australia A squad for a winter series in Queensland from July 30.
Harris helped Cummins remodel his action after the 23-year-old added to his long injury history by breaking down with a stress fracture in his back last September.
His career to date has been a tale of what might have been with multiple injury setbacks since his Test debut at the age of 18 - which to date remains his sole appearance in the baggy green.
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Harris is now looking forward to Cummins making up for lost time - especially with the red ball.
"It is a frightening prospect what he is still capable of," Harris told AAP.
"Everyone has seen in the one-day game that he can come in and bowl very, very quick.
"He is definitely a massive prospect and very important for our Test pace stocks that he teams up with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.
"Get them together and you have a pace armoury that an opposition does not look forward to facing."
Harris worked closely with National Cricket Centre head coach Troy Cooley and NSW bowling mentor Geoff Lawson to correct Cummins' action after a series of back, foot and side injuries.
"He's a guy you feel sorry for in a way," Harris said.
"He's got himself up and going and broken down again (last September).
"But it's not uncommon at his age.
"If you don't have the perfect action and it puts stress on your body then it's going to break.
"Hopefully that won't happen again and he is able to get some games together.
"I know he is very excited about playing red ball cricket again."
While Australia A will contest one-day and four-day games in the winter series in Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane, Cummins will be restricted to playing in the shorter format with Cricket Australia taking no risks with the injury-prone quick.
Australia A squad: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, Pat Cummins, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Sam Heazlett, Moises Henriques, Jake Lehmann, Chris Lynn, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Joel Paris, Matt Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall, Sam Whiteman.
Fixtures
Four-day matches
30 July – 2 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
6 August – 9 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
One-day Series
13 August, South Africa A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
14 August, Australia A v TBC, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
16 August, Australia A v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
17 August, South Africa A v TBC, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
20 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
21 August, TBC v NPS, Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville
24 August, NPS v Australia A, Harrup Park, Mackay
25 August, South Africa A v TBC, Harrup Park, Mackay
27 August, NPS v TBC, Harrup Park, Mackay
28 August, Australia A v South Africa A, Harrup Park, Mackay
30 August, Australia A v TBC, Harrup Park, Mackay
31 August, South Africa A v NPS, Harrup Park, Mackay
3 September; Final 3 v 4, Harrup Park, Mackay
4 September, Final 1 v 2, Harrup Park, Mackay
Four-day matches
8-11 September, Australia A v TBC, Allan Border Field, Brisbane
15-18 September, Australia A v TBC, Allan Border Field, Brisbane