Cummins: ‘Test recall has come faster than I thought’

Pat Cummins, who has not played a Test since making a dream debut against South Africa in 2011, was drafted into the side as injured Mitchell Starc’s replacement.

Australia's Pat Cummins, who is now 23, thought he would get to wear the baggy green only against England in the Ashes next summer.

Pat Cummins is just 23 but his has already been an injury plagued career with several breakdowns.

But then, in his only Test so far – against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011 – the lanky fast bowler picked up seven wickets to be adjudged Man of the Match.

Flying in to replace injured pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson in the Australian team, the pacey Cummins is likely to play the second Test of his fledgling career here.

Cummins thought he would get to wear the baggy green against England in the Ashes next summer.

“Everyone in the eleven needs to contribute. Winning over here is just one of those things that can bring a team together. And bring them together for the next 10 years or so.” - Starc

“I’d set myself little steps of getting back into the one-day side, and from that hopefully getting back into the Test side. But I didn’t think it was going to happen this quickly. I’d always had an eye on the Ashes next year, just thinking that I had to play three or four Shield games to put my hand up for selection. It has certainly come a lot quicker, but I always thought I’d get back here.”

The New South Welshman however said he was mentally prepared for the tour. “"I think for a couple of months, I knew I was going to be [in with] a chance; I had to sort out visas and everything like that a couple of months ago. So, I think it was always kind of part of a plan, along with playing a couple of Shield games.”

Cummins realised the Indian pitches were not really conducive to pace and bounce like the surface he bowled on for his Test debut.

He said, "In some ways it does [feel like a second debut]. It feels like so much has happened in those five or six years. But I think since that day this is easily the most prepared I have been for a Test match in terms of body, form and the length that I have been playing the last few months.”

The paceman said he was “pumped up” watching the engrossing series from home. "India is a tour that really brings the team and the squad together. And bring them together for the next 10 years or so."