Australian News – Pat Cummins likely to make Sheffield Shield return ahead of India Test

Cummins, who recently completed an MLC degree in the USA, has been rested from Australia’s white-ball tour of Scotland and England next month. He will spend time focusing on fitness and conditioning ahead of the home summer as the five Tests against India span just over seven weeks and will soon be followed by two more matches in Sri Lanka.

Cummins last played in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales in February 2021 and has played just nine games in his career. There is also an ODI series against Pakistan in early November which can be used as part of the build-up to the Test matches.

“Ronnie [coach Andrew McDonald] “He called me one day and said we need to talk about this,” said Cummins News Corp. “I prefer to play more but definitely play cricket when I come in.

“So I would say two or three ODIs, and the Shield [game] or maybe some Shield, maybe one day NSW stuff. I think late October/early November will be when I start playing with Test builds.”

New South Wales have a Shield match against Victoria from October 20 and against Queensland from November 1, although the latter comes before the start of the ODI series against Pakistan.

“I’m going to have a good six or eight weeks of bowling where I’m going to go to the gym every day, run, and get my body back in shape,” he said.

Most of the batsmen are expected to be present for the Sheffield Shield in October which consists of two rounds and those who are not part of the ODI squad against Pakistan may get another outing. There are also two four-day Australia A matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne.