Pat Cummins set for Sheffield Shield return ahead of blockbuster Test series against India
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is all set to make his Sheffield Shield return ahead of the blockbuster Test series against India, beginning on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The right-arm speedster also stated that he will play a few one-day games for New South Wales to build up his workload for the grueling summer.
The 31-year-old hasn't featured in the Sheffield Shield since February 2021 but will need some red-ball cricket under his belt ahead of India's arrival as Australia haven't played Test cricket since March 2024. Accordingly, Cricket Australia have also facilitated the domestic red-ball competition to begin on October 8.
Speaking to News Corp, Cummins underlined the need to strike a balance between being prepared and going in fresh to take on India as Australia hope to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"Ronnie [coach Andrew McDonald] called me the other day and said we need to talk about this," he said. "I prefer to go a little bit fresher but definitely play some cricket going in. So I'd say it's either two or three ODIs, plus a Shield [game] or maybe just some Shield, maybe some NSW one-day stuff. I imagine kind of late October/early November will be when I start playing building up for the Tests."
Cummins has been rested for the white-ball tour of England and Scotland as he will work on his strength and conditioning. The Aussie recently completed a stint in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA where his side San Fransisco Unicorns reached the final.
"I'll get in the gym every day, do some running, and get some strength back into my body" - Pat Cummins on preparing for the India series
During an interview with ESPN Cricinfo in July, Cummins said he had already planned to skip the white-ball tour of Scotland and England as he needed some time to build himself up again. He elaborated:
"That window has always been earmarked as a time to really give my body a rest and do close to a full pre-season. I should get six or eight weeks off bowling and then build up again. Once this MLC opportunity came up and we mapped out the plan, it didn't really change much. I'll get home, I'll have a good six or eight weeks off bowling where I'll get in the gym every day, do some running, and get some strength back into my body. And then we've got a big Test match series [against India] for our home summer, so that'll be the focus."
The 31-year-old was the highest wicket-taker (21) during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held in Australia.