Pat Cummins remains optimistic about participating in Australia’s most demanding year of cricket, although he concedes it would be “very surprising” if all three leading fast bowlers manage to compete in every match. The Test captain, recently returned from the IPL where he played his first competitive games in four months due to a back injury that affected his Ashes performance, expressed his physical readiness during a media event for Amazon Prime’s coverage of the upcoming women’s Twenty20 World Cup.
“I feel fantastic,” Cummins stated, adding that he received a favorable scan result. His next objective is to prepare to bowl 20 overs in a single day and repeat the effort in Test matches.
Throughout June and July, Cummins plans to gradually increase his bowling intensity in anticipation of a demanding year ahead, which could include up to 21 Test matches.
Australia’s men’s Test schedule for the 2026/27 season includes:
- Two Tests against Bangladesh
- Three Tests in South Africa
- Four Tests against New Zealand from December 9 to January 7
- World Test Championship final (potential)
- Five Tests in England
The busy schedule kicks off with two home Tests against Bangladesh in August. By the next August, the Test team will have returned to South Africa for the first time since the 2018 ball-tampering incident, embarked on a crucial tour of India, and aimed to defend the Ashes in England. Additionally, they will play a home series against New Zealand, commemorating the 150th anniversary Test at the MCG, and potentially participate in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
Typically, the so-called “big-three” fast bowlers, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, aim to be available for every Test match during the home summer. However, Cummins acknowledged that this year may present challenges in maintaining that plan, though he still hopes to play in all matches.
During the previous summer’s 4-1 Ashes victory, backup bowlers Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, and Brendan Doggett filled in when Hazlewood and Cummins faced injuries. Cummins has acknowledged that he will need to prioritize Test matches over white-ball cricket to realize his goal of participating in every Test, making a Big Bash League appearance this summer less likely.
Cummins also expressed confidence in Hazlewood’s potential to return to regular Test cricket despite having been sidelined from the entire Ashes due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. Although Hazlewood has played only 10 of Australia’s last 20 Tests, Cummins was pleased to witness him contribute to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL final victory last month.
