Australia’s pace leader Pat Cummins has revealed he came agonisingly close to making the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad, only for a late recovery setback to rule him out as he now shifts focus toward rest and a demanding Test calendar.
The right-arm quick was initially on track to return in time for the tournament starting February 7, but lingering discomfort from a back injury forced selectors to take a cautious approach. Cummins admitted the timeline tightened after follow-up scans showed the bone needed extra healing time, leaving him “just a couple of weeks short” of full fitness.
Rather than rushing back, the Australian captain has opted for a conservative recovery plan, targeting a complete return for the second half of the year when Australia face a packed ICC World Test Championship (WTC) schedule. The Aussies are set to play Bangladesh at home, tour South Africa, and then take on New Zealand and India in a high-intensity run that could define their WTC campaign. Cummins believes managing his workload now will ensure he can lead the attack without recurring setbacks later.
He remains hopeful of regaining fitness in time for the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), but long-format cricket remains the priority.
“If you’re not careful now and it flares up, you’re chasing your tail,” Cummins noted, underlining the importance of long-term durability over short-term returns.
Despite missing their pace spearhead and coming off a T20I series loss in Pakistan, Australia still head into the World Cup as favourites, boasting strong Big Bash form and returning stars. Cummins, watching from the sidelines, backed the squad’s morale and quality, insisting the setback won’t dent their title ambitions. For now, the focus is simple, heal, rebuild, and return stronger for the battles that matter most.
