Pat Cummins is Australia’s perfect fast bowling weapon, and he’s getting better

AUSSIE quick Pat Cummins feels like he belongs after completing his biggest 12 months of cricket ever and national bowling coach David Saker says the speedster will only get better.

Australia's Pat Cummins successfully appeals for the wicket of EnglandÕs Jonny Bairstow out lbw during day 5 of the 5th Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

AUSSIE quick Pat Cummins feels like he belongs after completing his biggest 12 months of cricket ever and national bowling coach David Saker says the speedster’s upside is “scary”.

Injury ravaged Cummins for five years after his Test debut as a 18-year-old tearaway in 2011 but his slow build after his return last summer turned in to a full on assault through 2017.

He started with Twenty20s in February, made his Test return in India in March, carried the fast bowling load in Bangadesh before topping the wicket-count with 23 English scalps during the Ashes.

Australia's Pat Cummins successfully appeals for the wicket of England’s Jonny Bairstow during day five of the 5th Ashes Test between Australia and England at the SCG. Picture: Brett Costello

Cummins said completing the seven-week, five Test slog was “the best thing” because getting through unscathed was the greatest challenge his rebuilt body was going to face.

“It’s a cycle of feeling totally cooked, feeling like you can’t bowl much more, having a rest, then getting up for the next innings. By day 25, you’re wrecked, but it’s amazing what your body can do with a result on the line. You somehow find another level,” Cummins wrote on the Players Voice website.

“I feel like I belong in the Australian team now. Previously, I’d play a game here or there and felt like I did OK. But being an Australian cricketer is about performing consistently and being able to deliver in back-to-back-to-back matches.”

The one-day series against England is next on Cummins’ summer menu although he’s likely to be rested in some games.

Australia's bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins who all took over 20 wickets each in the series celebrate with the urn in the dressing rooms of the SCG after winning the The Ashes. Picture. Phil Hillyard

And Saker, who has watched Cummins thrive, believes Australia has the perfect bowling weapon at it’s disposal and, at just 24, said he will only get better.

“The number one thing is he is a really great learner and a really great kid so he always wants to get better. When you put that attitude in a really good high performance environment, they are going to get better quickly,” Saker told the Herald Sun.

“I think he has so much upside to him, which could be scary for opposition.

“He can swing the ball both ways on any given day, and bowling at the pace he does, and he can control his length. He hasn’t played heaps of cricket either. Once he starts figuring out some small things about the game he is just going to get better and better.”

Saker conceded Cummins’ injury history meant they needed to be cautious with him, but was happy to wear that to see him become as good as he can be.

“We try to make sure we have a loose look at all the players loads. But he has been pretty resilient over the past 12 months, and bowled quite a lot of overs,” Saker said.

“He is coming through all well at the moment but we have to monitor him the best we can and look after him.

“He’s a pretty special kid and in time, if he can stay on the park, it’s pretty exciting for us.”

Originally published as Pat Cummins is Australia’s perfect fast bowling weapon, and he’s getting better