Patrick Cummins in action during his debut Test in 2011
©REUTERS / Action Images
<
>
Cummins Likely To Miss 2013-14 Season
Australia fast bowler Patrick Cummins is likely to miss the 2013-14 domestic season with a recurrence of the back injury he suffered last October.
Cummins returned home from the Australia 'A' tour of South Africa last week and Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that he has suffered a recurrence of a lower back bone stress injury.
"Pat returned home early from the Australia A tour of Africa with some side/back soreness and scans have shown a partial recurrence of his lower back bone stress injury suffered in October last year when he returned home from Champions League," CA chief medical officer Justin Paoloni explained.
"He will be closely monitored to determine his return to the playing field, but expect that he will miss most of the 2013-14 domestic cricket season."
The 20-year-old has suffered desperately with injuries since making his international debut in 2011 with back, heel and side strain problems curtailing his time on the field.
Missing the 2013-14 season deprives Australia of another fast-bowling option for the home Ashes series and with James Pattinson also currently on the sidelines, the bowling reserves are once again stretched.
In one piece of positive news for Cricket Australia, batsman Usman Khawaja has earned a contract upgrade after playing in three of the Ashes Tests against England.
© Cricket World 2013
