Cummins sets sights on Ashes return

Fast bowler Pat Cummins admits he's eyeing a return to the Baggy Green for next year's home Ashes series, as he gradually progresses in his comeback from a serious back injury.

Following a 12-month spell on the sidelines, Cummins starred for NSW in the recent Matador BBQs One-Day Cup with 14 wickets at 18.60, potentially putting him on the radar of the national selectors for international limited-over matches this summer.

And while he's also targeting a return to red-ball cricket at some stage this season in the Blues' Sheffield Shield campaign, the express paceman is unlikely to feature in Australia's home Test series against South Africa and Pakistan.

But Cummins says the 2017-18 Ashes remain a distant goal.

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"Those Test matches against England are a massive goal," Cummins told Fairfax. "One, I've got to break into that side and bowl well enough. Two, I've got to get back playing and get my body used to playing long-form cricket.

"That's where my future dreams lie in cricket - Test matches and an Ashes series and the one next year will be an absolute dream.

"That's certainly a target."

Cummins hasn't donned the whites in the international arena since his remarkable Test debut against the Proteas in 2011, during which he netted seven wickets and hit the winning runs.

The luckless right-armer has since endured a succession of injuries but he looked back to his frightening best during the Matador Cup.

He bowled with good pace, finding subtle movement and looked to be rushing batsmen with the white Kookaburra, encouraging signs for both the 23-year-old and Australian cricket.

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"(The) body feels better and better each game, I haven't really had to think about it," Cummins told reporters during the tournament.

"The ball feels like it's coming out where I want it to. Couldn't be happier.

"We played a couple of trial games (before the Matador Cup) … I tried to crank it up (his pace) for a couple of spells.

"I was pretty comfortable throughout this pre-season, trying to work on a little bit on technique and just bowling within myself."

"I think in the pre-season my top speed in the nets was about 122kph so hopefully (his Matador performance) was a bit quicker than that."

Although speed remains one of his key weapons, Cummins suggests the remedial work he did on his bowling action over the winter has focused on rhythm and good technique rather than outright pace.

"This time I'm more comfortable to try and take things a bit slower and work on a few things and not worry about how well or quick I was bowling," he said.

"Just having a couple of extra months gave me the chance to bowl a fair few overs before getting thrown in front of big crowds in high pressure situations.

"I guess that makes this comeback potentially more sustainable than the past.

"It's a bit more effortless and it feels a bit more easy to bowl with – it's about trying to nail that down now.

"I feel like I'm bowling just as well if not better than I was before – with a better action."

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