Cummins gunning for key role with host Australia at T20 World Cup

Fast bowler Pat Cummins is fit and firing and targeting a leading role for Australia when it hosts the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins.

Pat Cummins is determined to play a big role in Australia's bid to win the ICC T20 World Cup on home soil. The vice-captain has featured in just 25 Twenty20 internationals but is optimistic he can be a key performer when the tournament is held in his homeland during October and November.

Cummins features in Australia's squad for the three-match T20 series against South Africa that begins on Friday in Johannesburg. The paceman is coming off a sticky ODI series in January against India, taking just two wickets in three games at the cost of 161 runs.

Asked how he might look to improve, Cummins told Omnisport: "There's always lots of things. The good thing is we've got a T20 World Cup this year. I haven't played a lot of T20 in the last couple of years so I'm excited for that. We've got plenty of games to work out a few things, but there's always something to work on."

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Cummins had an early introduction to international cricket, making his T20 and Test debut at the age of 18, before injuries disrupted his career. Now 26, each year that goes by without a major injury setback is a blessed relief. It means that when he looks back at the past 12 months, he can point to "fortunately, more highs than lows".

"Everything has gone to plan," Cummins said. "It's been brilliant to play as much as I have, but also I've been really happy with how it's all coming out and yeah, a few series wins, it's been nice."

"The more you bowl, the more confident you feel you can just concentrate on just trying to bowl well, rather than all these different things, so I've been really lucky. It's been a good run, some big series that I've been fully fit for, it makes a big difference."

Cummins says he would be open to captaining his country in the future if the opportunity arises.

"Potentially if it came up, but I don't think that now is a time to talk about it," Cummins said. "We're in great form, the Test side, after a pretty much flawless summer and bringing back the Ashes, so we'll talk about it down the track."