The fast bowler got a rest during limited matches and is ready to go next week.
Pat Cummins believes he has had almost ideal preparation for the test series against India despite the opening match in Adelaide ending a gap of almost a year between first-class matches.
The last full-length game Cummins played was the final test against New Zealand in January, but he is confident that he is peaking at the right time before the day-night test after having rested from the last ODI and all the T20I series against India.
Australia was to have a central wicket session in Adelaide on Friday with Cummins planning to simulate match scenarios as the intensity builds ahead of testing next week. Only once in his career, before his debut in Johannesburg, had he not had a first-class match very close to a test match.
“I hadn’t played a red ball game for about seven or eight months,” he said. “I think the good thing this time is that we have an eight or nine day lead. Today we have a central wicket, so I will probably go out and throw eight overs or something simulating a Sheffield Shield game.
“I don’t see much of a problem. I’ve been playing and bowling quite a bit, high intensity, I played 20 games or so in the last few months and it’s just a small change as we move into more … cricket training.
“I feel fresh, that week or so I had a home it was great preparation. A good balance between downtime and doing little things that I haven’t been able to do in the last few months, but of course still training, building some strength. , preparing for this rather long period. If I could choose the perfect preparation, I think it would be pretty close given all the circumstances.
Heading into the series itself, Cummins hoped conditions would encourage bowlers beyond the first pink ball game in Adelaide.
“First of all, a fair balance between bat and ball,” he said. “I don’t think a test match where a team can get 600 is a good visual for anyone, so I hope it’s a really fair contest. Obviously here in Australia we want the kind of conditions that reflect Australia, I think the best test matches are when there’s pace and bounce on the grounds. Adelaide Oval has been really good ground every time I’ve played. So a little pace and bounce and hopefully a little twist for Lyno [Nathan Lyon] as well.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor of ESPNcricinfo
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