Cricket World Cup: Pat Cummins targeting Ashes selection after one-day action

PAT Cummins has put years of anguish behind him to be selected in Australia’s World Cup squad and he’s already looking beyond that, towards an Ashes tour.

Pat Cummins at the announcement of the Australian World Cup squad. Australia and New Zealand will host the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup which starts next month. pic. Phil Hillyard

FIRST stop World Cup, next stop Ashes.

That’s the ambitious plan of Australia’s most exciting young fast bowler Pat Cummins, who has put years of anguish behind him to be selected in Australia’s 15-man squad for a historic World Cup on home soil.

Cummins’ crucial role in the 50-over showpiece will rob him of a chance to get red-ball cricket under his belt this summer, but the 21-year-old still hopes he’s in contention for the winter tour of England.

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Nathan Hauritz and Pat Cummins (R) with the Cricket World Cup trophy at Coogee Oval.

It was three and a half years ago that Cummins burst onto the scene in all three formats on the tour of South Africa, but it was in his sole Test match that the lightning fast right-hander took the cricket world by storm.

Cummins says a return to the Test fold after numerous injury setbacks remains his ultimate goal and hopes the World Cup will enhance rather than hinder his plans.

“The goal for the summer and the last 12 months was always to play white-ball cricket and get confidence in my body to know that I can play cricket and I’m no more vulnerable to injuries than anyone else,” said Cummins.

“At the end of that, the goal was the World Cup.

“After the World Cup, hopefully we can sit down and map out a plan.

“Absolutely I want to get back to red ball really quickly and hopefully I can play some games and try to earn a spot on a couple of those Test tours (West Indies and England).

“The Ashes is certainly one.”

Cummins says his body is in great shape after 12 months of bowling without a hiccup – and forms a fearsome bowling arsenal for the Cup alongside Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

The game-breaker is far from daunted by the prospect of having to produce in a World Cup final – declaring he “loves” the pressure.

“I get more nervous when I’m watching the game,” he said.

Which is something Cummins has had to do a lot of over the past few years, as back injuries and other ailments have taken hold.

Pat Cummins trained with the Australian side during the Sydney Test. Picture: Gregg Porteous.

NSW and Australia teammate David Warner says the key for Cummins has been to never lose his positive attitude.

“He’s had his fair share of injuries. He’s young, but he’s come through it with a smile on his face.

“The guys do get a lot of crap for being injured ... but staying on the park is quite a hard job bowling 150km/h.

“Brett Lee, Dale Steyn, they’ve all had their fair share of injuries.

“…They’re not robots.”