Cummins aims to be fit for West Indies tour

The fast bowler Pat Cummins is aiming to be part of Australia's tour of the West Indies but has all but been ruled out of the Commonwealth Bank Series due to his heel injury. Cummins, 18, starred in Australia's Test victory in Johannesburg in November but has not played since then, and he is expecting to resume bowling in the next two weeks.

However, it could be as much as a month until he makes his comeback to competitive cricket, which is likely to come through Sydney's grade competition rather than for New South Wales. The limited-overs portion of the West Indies tour begins on March 16, and Cummins hopes he will be available for the five ODIs.

"The main thing everyone has said is don't rush and try and race back for something and then end up doing it again and you're out for another three months," Cummins told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's a bit out of everyone's hands, it's just how it recovers. Just playing it by ear and when it's ready it's ready. I'd love to be on that West Indies tour.

"I've done about four or five runs now and it's pulled up brilliantly the next day. It's pain-free every run and the next day it's not swollen so it's good signs at the moment. [It] probably takes another three or four weeks to build up to game practice. After that four weeks, hopefully 10 overs should be right for one-day cricket."

His success in the Wanderers Test made Cummins an appealing prospect for the home summer, but Australia's strong pace-bowling resources meant they managed without him and won five of their six home Tests. Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ryan Harris, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc carried the fast-bowling load.