Bayliss: Cummins 'getting his rhythm back'

Cricket365
September 10, 2014

Fast bowler Pat Cummins made his Test debut as a teenager three years ago, bowling brilliantly, before injuring ruled him out of action until recently, and he is well on his way to a Baggy Green comeback.

Cummins is fit again and playing for New South Wales, and will be part of the Champions League T20 with Kolkata this month. He has also been picked in the national T20 squad for the one-off match against Pakistan next month.

Trevor Bayliss, Cummins' coach at NSW and Kolkata, says the youngster is on track for some good returns, but wouldn't rush him back to the international game, rather aiming for the World Cup in February.

Bayliss said in the <i>Canberra Times</i>: "From his point of view, hopefully if he does well in the early part of the season, the T20s and the Matador BBQs Cup for NSW, he'd like to put his name forward for the World Cup.

"I think that's his aim at the moment. He's looking strong. He played a couple of [practice] one-dayers up in Brisbane last week and I think he's got another gear in him.

"He looks like he's starting to get his rhythm back and, after being injured so much in the past two years, it's about getting your rhythm and your confidence. He certainly looks like he's well on the way."

Cummins himself said he had struggled to remain patient with his body, but was pleased that the selectors had not forgotten about him, and that he was always part of the chatter when squads were selected.

The 21-year-old said: "As most young people are, I'm incredibly impatient when it comes to setbacks and everything.

"But without even playing that many games the last couple of years, having the selectors always talking about me, it's made it a bit easier.

"It's a long process but they always keep reaffirming to us young guys that we have their full support.

"My last tour was over in Sri Lanka for the Twenty20 World Cup [in 2012]. It's just great to be back in the system and, hopefully, this one game might be the start of trying to get back into all three forms."