Another back injury rules Pat Cummins out of 2015
Getty
Australia paceman Pat Cummins has suffered another injury setback that will see him miss the rest of the year.
The 22-year-old was ruled out of the upcoming tour to Bangladesh with a stress fracture in his back.
The injury is the latest in a long line of back problems for the New South Wales speedster, who has still played just one Test for his country – back in 2011 when he was man-of-the-match against South Africa.
• Aussie on the verge of dream Premier League move
• Wallabies win World Cup opener, miss bonus point
• Prescription drug abuse in sport is “rife”: ex-champ
Cummins was ruled out of the entire 2012-13 summer with a stress fracture and the injury flared up again in the following season.
On this occasion, the quick first felt pain during the fifth and final one-day international against England earlier this month.
Cricket Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said: “Pat Cummins experienced lower back pain during the last ODI match in the UK.
“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, Pat will be unable to participate in the Bangladesh Test series and will now enter into a lengthy rehabilitation program.”
While Cricket Australia did not put a timeframe on Cummins’ absence, his Big Bash League side, Sydney Thunder, ruled him out of the upcoming season, which ends in January.
James Faulkner will replace Cummins in the Test squad for Bangladesh.
Selector Rod Marsh said the injury was cruel on an unlucky Cummins.
“This is really unfortunate for Pat and I know how disappointed he will be,” he said.
“He is a young bowler with a bright future for Australia and we were really played with how he bowled in the UK.
‘We have opted to replace him with James Faulkner.
“James 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 the Bangladesh.”
Faulkner has not played for the national team since being banned from the one-day series in England due to a drink-driving charge in July.