Cummins sets sights on winter return for Australia

Recuperating fast-bowler Pat Cummins is targeting Australia's mid-year tours to the West Indies and Sri Lanka for his return to international cricket.

Cummins last played for Australia on the Qantas Tour of the British Isles in September 2015 when he was diagnosed with a lower lumbar bone stress fracture and the 22-year-old is expecting to return to bowling in the next fortnight.

"Recovery is going well, I think it's been five months now but I'm back fully running, gym, pilates, I'm doing almost everything other than bowling so I'll hope to do that in the next couple of weeks," Cummins told cricket.com.au.

"It'll be a couple-of-month build up but around mid-year I'll be 100 per cent and I'd hope to get on a tour somewhere."

Cummins, part of Australia's 50-over World Cup-winning squad last March, had long been ruled out of the World T20 in Indiabut is keen for a winter return to the national set-up. 

Australia will feature in a limited-overs tri-series in the Caribbean against the West Indies in South Africa in July, with a Test and limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka to follow in July and August.

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Retired paceman Ryan Harris joined Cummins in the Red Centre to mentor the players in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC).

Harris, who retired before the Ashes series last year, was impressed with the eagerness of the Indigenous players to learn in Alice Springs.

"Just talking through the basics of bowling and run-up … the kids are asking plenty of questions so it's great to see them so interested in cricket," Harris said.

More than two per cent of Australia's cricket participants identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with the NICC drawing the top talent from around the country, including Sydney Sixers allrounder Ashleigh Gardner and Australia Under 19 player Brendan Smith.

"I haven't witnessed the NICC, it's really exciting for me to sit and talk with the coaches and spread the word about cricket," said Harris.

Harris recently returned from coaching the Australian under-19 squad in Dubai and has been working in the communities as a coaching mentor at the grassroots level.

Cummins also lauded the competition for its competitiveness and ability to grow the game into the remote regions of Australia and develop the next crop of cricketers.

"I think the great thing for the young guys is they are playing guys that have played five or six tournaments … so it's a good contest for the 16 or 17 year olds," Cummins said.

It's a great tournament, it's great to see the best guys from each state playing each other, it's a great stage and will provide plenty of opportunities."

The NICC continues in Alice Springs with the final played on Monday at Traeger Park, follow the action at nicc.cricket.com.au.