Exciting NSW fast bowler Pat Cummins will return to competitive cricket through the Australia A team later this year.
Cummins, who turned 23 last Sunday, has been named in a 24-man squad for the quadrangular series to be played in Brisbane, Mackay and Townsville duing August and September.
The quad series will be a combination of four-day and one-day matches against South Africa A, Cricket Australia’s National Performance Squad and a fourth international side to be confirmed. Cummins will play in the one-day series.
NSW team mates Moises Henriques and Kurtis Patterson have also been named in the squad. Henriques had last season ruined by injury while Patterson had a breakthrough summer, scoring 737 runs at 53 in the Sheffield Shield.
It is almost eight months since Cummins last played competitive cricket, when another back injury cut short his one-day series in England last year.
Australia A coach Troy Cooley said: “Pat is tracking along nicely in his recovery from his long term injury and we are hopeful he will be available for the one-day matches in this series. However, we will be guided by medical staff on his return.”
The ever-smiling Cummins was a standout when he debuted as a 17-year-old for NSW and then played his first Test at just 18 before constantly battling stress-related injuries.
He was man of the match during his only Test, against South Africa, claiming 6-79 in the second innings and then hitting the winning runs as Australia chased down a record score in Johannesburg.