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Cummins’ perfect tune up for Test summer

The world’s No.1 Test bowler was in devastating form at the SCG as he had the Kookaburra ball moving both ways

Paceman Pat Cummins looks primed to take on Pakistan in the first Domain Test after ripping through Western Australia in a brilliant spell of reverse-swing bowling at the SCG. 

The Marsh Sheffield Shield clash between the Blues and WA was meandering along until Cummins brought the match to life with a spell of 3-9 in 30 balls to move the game on and put the hosts in complete control.

Cummins caught the outside edge of visiting skipper Ashton Turner's bat with a perfect outswinger with the fourth ball of his spell, before bending the ball back the other way to bowl impressive youngster Cameron Green, who offered no shot.

His third wicket came on the stroke of lunch when he found the edge of Josh Inglis's hanging bat through to Nick Larkin at first slip to leave WA 6-133 as both teams left the field.

Cummins finished with 3-31 from 15 overs on a pitch Steve Smith called 'benign' yesterday, and the tearaway picked up another wicket late in the day after the Blues sprung a surprise declaration on WA, who need a further 323 runs to win with seven wickets in hand.

Cummins said NSW had the Kookaburra ball reverse swinging inside 15 overs and enjoyed bowling with it having used white balls or red Dukes for the past six months. 

"It's the first time I've bowled with a reversing ball for probably 12 months, so I was just trying to do what I normally do and attack the pegs," Cummins said after play.

"I try to get it to swing a little bit each way and fortunately today (got) a few nicks and they carried, which doesn't always happen with the ball is reversing."

NSW eyeing victory after Cummins, Starc fire

As Test cricket's No.1 bowler, Cummins has been carefully managed by the Australians.

After getting through marathon stint in the UK this winter, where he played in all 10 of Australia's World Cup matches and the entire Ashes campaign, Cummins earned a much-needed rest upon his return home.

His first match back was a 50-over fixture for NSW in the Marsh One-Day Cup before playing in the first five Gillette T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka.

The speedster was rested for the final match in Perth to rest and focus his preparations for the Gabba, where in two Tests he has taken 14 wickets, including 10 in his last match against Sri Lanka in January.

It appears the 26-year-old has slipped straight back into Test-match mode right in time for next Thursday's first Test. 

"The good thing is it was only six or seven weeks ago I was playing the Ashes, so I don't feel like I'm trying to re-learn anything," Cummins said.

"It's more just trying to get back that rhythm which came pretty quickly."

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: TBC

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: v Australia A, November 11-13, Perth Stadium (d/n)

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)