Test captain Pat Cummins reveals extent of hip injury which forced him out of IPL

The big Australian squad in Sri Lanka has been hit by injuries to bowlers but Test skipper Pat Cummins says it’s no crisis.

Australia's Patrick Cummins bowling in Sri Lanka. Picture: ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP

Test captain Pat Cummins is adamant his preparation for the two-match series against Sri Lanka won’t be compromised by the injuries which have hit the bowling attack after making his comeback from a hip injury on Tuesday night.

Cummins bowled eight overs in his first game for five weeks, having left the Indian Premier League early to deal with his injury – which he conceded he was “paranoid” about – before leaving India in May.

But while the issue had been “niggly” for some time, Cummins was adamant it wasn’t an issue which would limit his bowling.

“It’s nothing major at all; it’s just been niggly there for a little while,” he said from Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

“Kind of at that back-end of the IPL, I got pretty sore, and I was pretty paranoid that I needed a break. It worked out well; I got three weeks’ rest.

“It’s something we manage. Us bowlers joke around that something starts feeling good and something else pops up. It’s nothing to be worried about. I can’t imagine missing too many games with it.

“Honestly, it’s not too bad. It’s fine bowling.”

Pat Cummins in action in Sri Lanka. Picture: ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP

Despite losing Kane Richardson from the ODI squad, and with new doubts over Ashton Agar after he suffered a side strain in the opening win over the home team, Cummins was adamant there was enough bowling reserves to ensure he and his fellow Test quicks could stick to pre-series planning to get them ready for the two matches starting on June 29 in Galle.

“All the planning was going to be for a perfect preparation; we had the Aussie A team over here, a big squad, but there were always going to be things that crop up,” he said.

“It’s not ideal, the amount of injuries, but we will strike that balance. The Test matches are front of mind, even in this series. I don’t think much will change from what I am going to do this series.

“The plan has always been a bit wait-and-see. Ideally the guys that might play the Test matches, the quick bowlers, wouldn’t play all five. That won’t change.

“Scotty Boland has come in, hopefully Starcy (Mitchell Starc) will be back soon, Mitch Marsh back bowling, Cam Green back bowling. It feels like we still have plenty of options.”

Mitchell Starc is bowling with six stitches in his finger. Picture: Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP

Starc still has six stitches in the index finger of his bowling hand, which means he can’t play with tape over them. Cummins hoped he would be able to play at least the back-end of the ODI series to get ready for the Tests.

“I think the plan was to get the stitches out in the next day or two. The key with that is we don’t want to rush him. We don’t want to put the Test series in jeopardy by reopening that (wound). There’s no timeline, but a good result would be if he played some of this series.”

“This is the best prep possible, an ODI series – top-quality, tough cricket.”

Game two of the series will be played Thursday night.

Originally published as Test captain Pat Cummins reveals extent of hip injury which forced him out of IPL