Pat Cummins cautious of workload in the absence of Starc and Hazlewood

Australia paceman Pat Cummins has conceded he is wary of managing a packed schedule of international cricket in 2019.

The right-arm fast bowler has been rested for the first two ODIs of Australia’s series against Pakistan played in the UAE.

And with all eyes looking ahead towards the Cricket World Cup and Ashes to come this summer, Cummins said he was keen to take up the mantle of the Australia attack in the absence of injured senior quicks Mitchell Starc (back) and Josh Hazlewood (back).

“The World Cup is really busy, but it’s about two games a week. Hopefully, [we] can manage all that. You want to be playing all the games you can,” he said. “I’m no different. It’s quite a long tour, so probably managing in between games and how you train, just trying to give yourself every chance to play.

“I got no idea how we’re going to work out the World Cup schedule. I think it is going to be one of those World Cups where you do need a whole squad of 15 playing and firing because it’s nine ODIs in [five] weeks. It’s going to be quite a big ask.”

Starc and Hazlewood are both in a race to be fit for the World Cup, which starts on May 30, with Cummins confirming swing bowling was taking precedent in his training sessions in order to adjust to English conditions.

“Obviously, swing is going to be quite a big factor,” he told cricket.com.au. “A lot of the Tests here [in Australia], the ball doesn’t really swing too much, so getting over there, preparing well and trying to improve my swing bowling – that’s definitely one thing.”

Cummins, 25, has been named in Australia’s team to play Pakistan in the third ODI on Wednesday having recently received the country’s prestigious Allan Border Medal.

Across Australia’s series with South Africa, India and Sri Lanka over the winter, Cummins claimed 45 wickets at an average of 19.75 taking all formats into account.