Test quicks ready for JLT Cup return

Australia's Test quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood will suit up for the NSW Blues this week as they return to competitive action in the JLT One-Day Cup.

At least one of the quicks is expected to line-up for Monday's day-night clash with Queensland at Drummoyne Oval, with Cummins understood to be ready to face Chris Lynn's Bulls.

Hazlewood, newly minted as Australia's Test vice-captain, along with Western Australia Mitchell Marsh, could yet feature against Queensland in the last game before the finals series starts on Wednesday.

A revised format for this year's JLT Cup sees every state progress to the knock-out rounds, with the Blues bottom of the ladder with one win from their four matches so far.

"I had a good hit out last week in Premier cricket which was my first game for about five months I think, so I am ready to get going and start playing some games," Cummins said.

"The Blues have had a bit of a rough trot the first few games, but everyone is in a really good place, and seems really energetic. I can't wait to be amongst it."

The duo had hoped to be in Dubai with Australia's Test squad where Tim Paine's side are preparing to face Pakistan on October 7, but a cautious approach to recovery from back issues meant their match fitness and bowling workloads would not be ready for Test cricket in time.

Cummins said his recovery from a back injury during the off-season had gone according to plan.

"(It was) pretty similar to Joshy Hazlewood's really. It's been about five or six months – the first few months I wasn't doing too much, just making sure everything healed properly and thankfully it did," he said.

"I guess being a little bit of a quiet period it's given us a chance to do a lot more preseason kind of things.

"We did a lot of gym work, a lot of running, then built up our bowling quite slowly, so I feel like we've had the perfect lead-in to the summer."

Cummins, who was in commentary box for the Australia Women's T20 series-opening victory against New Zealand on Saturday evening, claimed 2-12 in six overs for Penrith in NSW Premier Cricket.

"I've bowled a fair bit in the nets the last few weeks, but in a game it's always just a little bit more intense and, sore legs for a couple of days, but came out of it pretty well," Cummins said of the match against Hawkesbury.

With Queensland boasting a powerful batting line-up lead by noted power-hitter Lynn, Cummins said he wouldn't play if he was less than full fitness.

"You've got to be flat out, if you're not flat out, you get found out," Cummins said.

"Some of the fields here are pretty small as well, and there's been some big hundreds and some quick hundreds.

"(I need to) make sure I'm accurate, but you've got to have all your options, your slower balls, your yorkers, all those things in good form or else you're going to get found out."

"I feel like I've been bowling really well, my run-up is good, it's just when there's a bit of a crowd around and TV cameras on, it's just trying to make sure that I keep that same tempo.

"I am feeling in a pretty good place, hopefully I can get some wickets and get the Blues a win."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Ashton Agar, Brendan Doggett, Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc

Sep 29 - Oct 2: Tour match v Pak A, Dubai

Oct 7-11: First Test, Dubai

Oct 16-20: Second Test, Abu Dhabi