Pat Cummins, Injured Once Again, Ruled Out of Bangladesh Tour; James Faulkner Drafted In
Pat Cummins' injury woes continued as he was ruled out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh due to a stress fracture on the back. James Faulkner, who was was omitted from the England ODI series, replaces him.
Injury and Pat Cummins seem to be going hand in hand. Just when he looked set to come back into the Australian Test squad after a four-year gap, a stress fracture on his back has ruled the Australian pacer out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh. This is third stress fracture on Cummins' back and has thrown his career into uncertainty. (James Faulkner Sorry for Drunk Driving)
Ever since the Australia speedster burst onto the scene with his haul of 6/79 in the second Test against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011, it has been a close battle between Cummins and his injuries. (James Faulkner Banned from Driving for Two Years)
Following the end of the series, Cummins was diagnosed with a back stress fracture as he missed the entire 2012/13 season. He was making small steps towards making a recovery and was pushing a claim for a spot in the Australian Test squad before a recurrence of the stress fracture made him sit out most of the 2013/14 season as well. (Mushfiqur Rahim Says Bangladesh Have a Great Chance to Beat Australia)
Cummins featured in the 2015 World Cup and he was selected in the Ashes series. Although he did not play in any of the Test matches, he showed his prowess in the ODI series where he picked up 12 wickets in five games at an average of 19.66.
Bowling with good pace, Cummins was the stand-out bowler as Australia won the ODI series 3-2. However, this latest setback has thwarted his attempts of making a Test comeback.
Speaking to the official Cricket Australia site, Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said, "Cummins experienced lower back pain during the last ODI match in the UK and this pain continued upon his return to Australia. He subsequently underwent an MRI scan yesterday which unfortunately has revealed a new early stage lumbar bone stress fracture. Consequently, Cummins will be unable to participate in the Bangladesh Test series and will now enter into a lengthy rehabilitation programme."
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Opportunity for one-Test-old James Faulkner
Cummins' injury has opened the door for allrounder James Faulkner in the squad. Faulkner, who missed the ODI series in England due to charges of drunk driving in Manchester, played his only Test against England at The Oval during the 2013 Ashes.
Remarking on Cummins' latest injury, Australia's selector Rod Marsh said he was disappointed with Cummins' injury.
"This is really unfortunate for Cummins. He is a young bowler with a bright future for Australia and we were really pleased with how he bowled in the UK. We have opted to replace him with Faulkner.
"He (Faulkner) comes back into the Australia Test side having only played the one Test, but he is an exciting young bowler who could be very handy in the conditions we are likely to see in Bangladesh," Marsh said.
Australia will tour Bangladesh for a Test series after nine years. The first Test will start on October 9 in Chittagong while the second Test will begin on October 17 in Mirpur.