Quick quartet back on track

First cab off the rank is Tassie paceman Bird, who is setting his sights on a return to action with the Melbourne Stars in the KFC Big Bash League.

“I’ve been bowling for about eight weeks now so it’s coming along nicely,” he told CA at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane. “I’m bowling at 100 per cent so hopefully I’ll be back soon.

“It’s been fun to get back around the boys down in Kingston (Bird’s grade side). I played the last two games and then off to Melbourne this week to play for Camberwell in the Melbourne Premier League, so looking forward to playing with a new bunch of guys and having a crack down in Melbourne.”

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One-Test wonder Cummins is also showing signs of returning to full fitness.

“Up here at the new NCC here in Brisbane with James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird and it’s been a good couple of days,” said the 20-year-old. “Everyone is at a similar stage of rehab. We’re all running and getting back into bowling so I’ve been bowling for three weeks, so building up to 100 per cent.

“I’m pretty confident I’ll play at the end of the Big Bash, so the last couple of days for the Perth Scorchers, hopefully we’ll make the finals and then I’d love to play a couple of T20s for Australia at the start of next year.”

Pushing Cummins every step of the way is 23-year-old Pattinson, who has taken 47 wickets in 12 Tests.

“It’s feeling quite good at the moment,” he said. “I’m back bowling almost 100 per cent now so hopefully in a couple of weeks I can play grade cricket and hopefully put on the red jersey for the Renegades and bowl some spells in the Twenty20 competition.”

Slightly behind the trio is 23-year-old left-armer Starc.

“Rehab’s going well, the back’s feeling good,” he said. “I’m not quite up to the level that the other boys are yet, so I’ve been kind enough to jump in the nets and face the new ball against the quicks trying to hit me!

“Hopefully (I can) bowl in the next few days. This week it’s all been about much the same as the last couple of weeks with lifting weights, facing the quicks in the nets on the turf which is great and hopefully playing some grade cricket this weekend.

“Still a bit of time yet till I start playing. First game back in grade cricket as a bat for the mighty (Wests) Magpies, hopefully score some runs … after Patty Cummins’ hundred in grade cricket last week (110 not out for Penrith against Sutherland), so something to match there.

“I start bowling in Perth next Monday (under Dennis Lillee) and hopefully, fingers crossed, hopefully I can play a part in the Big Bash with the Sixers.”