Pat Cummins targets Ashes return but knows he must be careful

Injury-hit Australia paceman Pat Cummins is confident he will be fit for the Ashes next summer but fears he will not last the distance.

The 19-year-old is sidelined with back stress fractures suffered when playing for the Sydney Sixers in the Twenty20 Champions League in October and previously had a lengthy absence due to a foot injury.

Australia are anxious to get Cummins back given that he took seven wickets in his one and only Test against South Africa last November.

Speaking in Sydney today, Cummins believes he will be ready for the Ashes and although the talented teen accepts he will not feature in all five matches, he thinks he can work effectively in rotation with fellow youngsters James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.

“I’d love to be part of the Ashes,” said Cummins. “I’m not playing IPL this year to try and get back to playing red-ball cricket, so that’s certainly the goal. I’ll probably have my first bowl in February but it takes at least two months to build up to 100 per cent.

“Once I get back bowling there’s not many options over here so I’ll go over and hopefully play in England, even if it’s just English league cricket, something a little bit less intense than county cricket and hopefully build up. But I’d love to be right for the Ashes. I think I’d be bowling for close to six months before the First Test so I’ll see how I go, but hopefully I’ll be there or thereabouts.

“I think even Sids [Peter Siddle] would struggle to get through five on the trot. It’s pretty demanding, I’d love to in the future but I guess the first aim would be to be available for selection for some of those Tests.”

Australia opener Ed Cowan has already signed up for a spell in county cricket to prepare for the Ashes, having agreed a short-term deal with Nottinghamshire.

The 30-year-old will be available until June 21, with his stay covering seven County Championship games and eight one-day fixtures.

“I was very keen to play some Division One cricket,” said Cowan. “There are a lot of good players at the club and Trent Bridge is a great venue so I’m hoping to make a good contribution on and off the field.”