David Warner’s return to cricket remains unclear after he was left out of NSW team again

Pat Cummins returns for just his second game of domestic cricket since the end of the India series, but a high-profile Aussie teammate is absent and may not play again until the IPL in April.

Pat Cummins had his first taste of captaincy last week against Victoria at North Sydney Oval (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Pat Cummins will be back in action for just his second game since the end of the Test series against India when NSW takes on Victoria again this week.

Test fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been rested for the Sheffield Shield match, which was moved from the MCG to Bankstown after Victoria went into lockdown last week.

Opener David Warner has again been left out as he continues to recover from a groin issue. He may not play for NSW before heading to the Indian Premier League in April.

NSW welcome back Pat Cummins for the clash against Victoria.

Cummins captained NSW in a one-day match last Monday, his first hit out since the fourth and final Test against India in Brisbane in January.

NSW coach Phil Jaques said they had to plan to manage Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitch Starc, who took just one wicket in last week’s loss to Victoria at the SCG.

“We mapped out a plan for Josh and with quick games back-to- back we have given him this game off, but he will play our third game in this stretch of matches,” Jacques said.

“It’s a busy season and we have to manage all of our players, especially the quick bowlers so we have them all firing towards the back end of the season.”

Warner also hasn’t played anywhere since the fourth Test against India finished on January 21.

NSW has at least two more Shield games, and possibly three one-day games before he would be required to head to India where he will again captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.

David Warner hasn’t been seen in action since the India Test series.

He’s the only Test player yet to feature for his state since the restart of the domestic summer, apart from Will Pucovski who has had season-ending surgery on his shoulder.

A return date for Warner remains unclear.

Test spinner Nathan Lyon will again turn out for NSW after taking a 10-wicket haul against the Vics at the SCG last week and unlike the fast bowlers is expected to play most, if not every game in the rest of the domestic season.

Originally published as David Warner’s return to cricket remains unclear after he was left out of NSW team again