Australia's Test captain, Pat Cummins, is planning a brief return to the Sheffield Shield as he prepares for the upcoming Test series against India, which begins in late November.
Cummins, who recently concluded a stint in the Major League Cricket (MLC) in the USA, will not participate in Australia’s white-ball tour of Scotland and England next month. Instead, he will focus on strength and conditioning in preparation for the home summer, which features five Tests against India over a span of just over seven weeks. These will be followed by two additional Tests in Sri Lanka. The outcome of these seven matches will be crucial in determining whether Australia qualifies to defend their World Test Championship title at Lord's next June, as they currently sit second in the rankings behind India.
Cummins last played in the Sheffield Shield for New South Wales in February 2021, and he has only made nine appearances in the competition throughout his career. There is also an ODI series against Pakistan scheduled for early November, which could serve as part of his preparation for the Test series.
Cummins mentioned in an interview with News Corp that his coach, Andrew McDonald, suggested they discuss his preparation strategy. Cummins expressed a preference for arriving at the Test series fresh but acknowledged the importance of playing some cricket in the lead-up.
He indicated that his schedule might include two or three ODIs, a Shield match, or possibly a mix of Shield and New South Wales one-day games. He anticipated starting his match preparations in late October or early November. New South Wales has a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria starting on October 20, followed by a game against Queensland on November 1, though the latter overlaps with the beginning of the ODI series against Pakistan.
Cummins previously shared with ESPNcricinfo that skipping the England tour was a pre-planned decision, with the focus now on ensuring his body is ready for the demanding season ahead, which also includes the Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February.
He outlined his plan to take a six to eight-week break from bowling to concentrate on gym work, running, and rebuilding his strength. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc, who is set to play in the ODI series against England after resting from the T20Is, and Josh Hazlewood, who will participate in the entire tour, could also be available for New South Wales before the international season begins. Nathan Lyon is expected to play at least two matches before the India series.
Most of Australia's batters are likely to be available for Sheffield Shield action in October, with two rounds scheduled. Those not involved in the ODI series against Pakistan might get an additional match, while there are also two Australia A four-day matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne.