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Pat Cummins faces reluctant ODI rest

Pat Cummins has played all five games during his first home Test series but acknowledges he faces the prospect of being rested during the upcoming ODI series.

Pat Cummins
Australia's Pat Cummins celebrates a wicket in the fifth Test at the SCG. (AAP)

Pat Cummins managed to play all five games during his maiden home Test series but the express paceman will soon be forced to rest.

Cummins started this Ashes contest with a sense of uncertainty, having never played a Test in Australia because of a handful of serious injuries that followed his sparkling debut in South Africa in 2011.

The right-armer, who captured the first two wickets to fall in the SCG series finale and finished with figures of 4-80 on day two, is thrilled to have exceeded his own expectations by playing all five Tests.

Cummins was included in Australia's squad for a five-match ODI series against England that starts on January 14.

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns has already flagged that Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood won't play in all those games.

"They're going to reassess after this game. There was a bit of chat we might rest from one or two," Cummins told reporters.

"We've got a bit of a break before the ODIs start.

"I don't know yet. It takes a little bit to get over each Test but once you're over a Test, you're ready to start bowling and 10 overs in an ODI is a bit easier than a Test."

The issue of workload management divides fans, players and coaches but selectors will be keen to ensure Cummins is cherry ripe for the ensuing Test tour of South Africa.

Cummins earlier told ABC Radio he'd been surprised by both his durability and the docile nature of pitches during his maiden home Test series.

Cummins, who endured almost six years of injury hell before returning to the Test XI last year, admitted pre-series he wasn't sure if he could get through the summer without being rested from a Test.

He is now the most resilient member of the attack, with the current game being his ninth straight Test.

"At the start of the summer, being pretty realistic I thought five games would have been a long stretch," Cummins said.

"I've been really surprised with how well I've pulled up after each game.

"If we'd had a few heavier games and I had a few aches and pains then it probably would have been spoken about."


3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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