Cummins keen to play entirety of Australia’s ‘unprecedented’ run

A Grueling 12 Months Afield for Australia’s Captain

Pat Cummins is preparing himself for what is set to be the most demanding chapter of his international career. As Australia gears up to embark on its busiest 12-month period on record, the Test and ODI captain has made his intentions clear. While the physical demands of the upcoming schedule will be extreme, Cummins keen to play entirety of Australia’s ‘unprecedented’ run. However, the captain remains highly realistic, admitting that keeping the core fast-bowling trio together for every single match will be a massive challenge.

Physical Readiness and Gradual Workload Build-up

Cummins has recently returned from his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which marked his first competitive matches in four months. Prior to the tournament, a back injury had curtailed his participation in the Ashes, raising concerns about his long-term durability. Fortunately, the initial signs are highly encouraging.

“Body feels awesome,” Cummins said. Having undergone a recent scan that returned completely clear, he is now looking forward to the next stage of his physical progression. This involves gradually ramping up his bowling loads throughout June and July, with the ultimate goal of being able to bowl 20 overs in a day during a Test match and backing it up the following day.

The ‘Unprecedented’ 12-Month Test Schedule

The upcoming year presents a monumental challenge for the Australian team, with up to 21 Test matches scheduled. This historic run begins in August with a two-match home series against Bangladesh. From there, the schedule intensifies dramatically.

By the following August, the Test side will have navigated several landmark series:

• A return to South Africa for the first time since the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering saga.
• A crucial, legacy-defining away tour against India.
• A fierce battle to retain the Ashes on English soil.
• A home series against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.
• The historic 150th anniversary Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• A potential appearance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

Managing the ‘Big Three’ Fast Bowlers

Historically, Australia’s premier fast-bowling trio—Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—aim to feature in every single Test match of a home summer. However, Cummins acknowledges that the sheer volume of cricket over the next year will likely require a different approach.

“The lucky thing is I haven’t played much in the last year or so, so I’m actually coming in physically as good as I possibly could be,” Cummins remarked. “I’m kind of hoping that I play all of them, but I’m sure things will pop up along the way. It’d be very surprising if the same three bowlers played in 21 of the Tests… there might be a little bit of chopping and changing. It’s kind of unprecedented.”

Pace Bowling Depth and Red-Ball Priority

Should the selectors need to rotate or manage injuries, Australia is well-equipped with high-quality reserve pacemen. During the previous summer’s 4-1 Ashes victory, injuries to Hazlewood and Cummins allowed backup bowlers like Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, and Brendan Doggett to step in and deliver stellar performances.

To maximize his chances of playing in all 21 Tests, Cummins is prepared to make significant sacrifices regarding white-ball cricket. He has confirmed that short-form matches will take a back seat, making a Big Bash League (BBL) cameo this summer highly unlikely.

“It’s prioritising the Test matches and then outside of that, there won’t be too much,” Cummins explained, emphasizing that any white-ball appearances will depend entirely on how he recovers from the grueling Test matches.

The Outlook for Josh Hazlewood

Cummins also voiced strong support for Josh Hazlewood, who has struggled with hamstring and Achilles tendon injuries over the past couple of years. Hazlewood has only played in 10 of Australia’s last 20 Tests, but Cummins remains optimistic about his long-term viability in the Test arena.

Pointing to Hazlewood’s recent success in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win last month’s IPL final, Cummins noted: “Bowling seems a funny one, you can get on a bit of a roll and play a lot. The hardest thing for someone like Josh is actually getting up and going again. He’s had a few little niggles as he’s been building back up, so it’s been great to see him play a lot of cricket.”