Pat Cummins back on home soil but, more importantly, feeling mentally sharp for long summer

India’s batsmen may not get a good look at Pat Cummins until the Test series with the Aussie star’s white-ball availability up in the air as he continues his quarantine spell in Sydney.

Pat Cummins is back on home soil and feeling good about the upcoming summer.

Pat Cummins says he’s in a “good place” after three months in an overseas bio-bubble, but still hasn’t made a call on whether or not he’ll rest during the white ball internationals.

Fox Sports, who broadcast the ODI and T20s exclusively, are desperately hoping Cummins will be available for the series given the appeal of his tantalising rivalry with Indian prince, Virat Kohli.

Channel 7 has also put pressure on Cricket Australia to seek assurances the first week of the Big Bash League is not affected IPL stars having to rest.

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Pat Cummins could still be a starter in the white ball internationals.

With 17 Test players unavailable for BBL opening week, plus a handful more due to Australia A commitments, it’s hoped Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis will all be on hand to help get the competition off to a flyer.

National selector Trevor Hohns has said his panel will be very aware of broadcaster needs when managing its players, but the expectation is the Australian stars who have been in the IPL and England since late August will need a mental break at some point from the bubble life.

Cummins says dominating India early could be key to summer.

“I haven’t made a final decision on that yet,” Cummins said.

“Obviously it’s unprecedented times with so many people spending a large portion of time in these bubbles, so we’re going to keep all the conversations open, chat about that a bit closer to when we all get together.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s times throughout the summer where some players might just need a little rest knowing not only how busy this next couple of months is, but also a tour of South Africa (from February) and a few away tours next year.”

Cummins said he hasn’t come back from the IPL in Dubai in bad shape mentally.

“I actually feel in a pretty good place to be honest,” he said.

“One of the benefits of being in a bubble in the UAE was we didn’t spend much time travelling.

“A normal IPL we’re on a flight every second day to a different city, so I think sometimes that can be as draining as the playing part.

“ … It doesn’t feel like the end of the summer. It feels like I’m ready to start the tour and in a pretty good place.”

Cummins is hopeful Australia can open up some mental scars with the Indian players by dominating the ODI and Twenty20 matches starting from November 27.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a deliberate focus but it would be nice if it happened,” Cummins said.

“Hopefully these conditions will be what we as Aussies are accustomed to and they’ve got a bit more bounce and pace than you would find in a place like India. So that home advantage might come into it.”

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SHOULD CUMMINS SUCCEED PAINE?

Fast bowling ace Pat Cummins was last week elevated as Tim Paine’s sole vice-captain in the naming of the Australia Test squad for the forthcoming summer series, but Trevor Hohns claimed it was too early to say whether that indicated Steve Smith’s chances of returning to the captaincy had sailed.

“All I can answer to that one is that discussions haven’t been had yet,” Hohns said.

“He will obviously be probably a contender, but whether we go down that path or not depends on when that arises. Tim Paine hasn’t gone yet, put it that way. So we’ll worry about that in due course.”

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has warned against having a fast bowler wearing the armband.

“Pat Cummins is a lovely guy and probably has a very good cricket brain, I always think it’s harder for a bowler to be captain, particularly a fast bowler,” he told WWOS.

“When you’re running in and bowling fast and trying to get as fired up as possible, then finish an over and think about setting a field for Nathan Lyon, that’s not easy.

“It’s doable, but it’s not as easy as it was for someone like me who spent most of my time at slip.

“Then you’ve got to work out the right time to take yourself off, or bring yourself back on. It’s got to be harder to be a fast bowler and captain.”

But what does Cummins think of his new position? How does he think Australia will fare this summer? And what are they doing behind the scenes to prepare for Virat Kohli and his team?

CHAT LIVE WITH PAT CUMMINS FROM 2PM AEDT

Originally published as Pat Cummins back on home soil but, more importantly, feeling mentally sharp for long summer