SYDNEY: Australia captain Pat Cummins said Friday he is targeting the Indian Premier League to make his return from a niggling injury that sidelined him from the Champions Trophy.
The 31-year-old quick has been struggling with a long-standing left ankle issue that flared during the Test series win over India in December-January.
He missed the dominant two-Test victory in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, where a Steve Smith-led Australia open their account against England on Saturday.
Cummins told cricket.com.au he aimed to honor his contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad when the IPL starts on March 22.
“The ankle is starting to come good,” he said. “It’s a funny one — it’s not like a hamstring where you need six weeks (to recover).
“It’s one of those ones where it really just needs a bit (more) rest to settle down.
“So we just ran out of time for Pakistan.”
Cummins said the injury was not new or an issue that would affect him long term.
“It’s just one of those ones you’ve got to manage. A bit of a break now, hopefully it sets it up for the next year or so,” he said.
Following the IPL, Australia play the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s on June 11 before a three-Test tour of the West Indies that runs into July.
Cummins said the intensity of the IPL would be adequate preparation to resume red-ball cricket.
“Physically it’s quite a nice build-up for the World Test Championship final, and then the Test matches after that,” he said.
“That’s the aim at this stage — start bowling over the next week or so, building up, and should be right for IPL.”
Australia’s Cummins targets IPL return after injury rules him out of Champions Trophy
https://arab.news/c4e3a
Australia’s Cummins targets IPL return after injury rules him out of Champions Trophy
- The 31-year-old quick has been struggling with a long-standing left ankle issue
- Steve Smith-led Australia will face England in Champions Trophy on Saturday
Champions League: Barcelona travels to Newcastle as round of 16 gets underway
- Spanish champions travel to St. James’ Park for the first leg, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what’s at stake
Barcelona faces Newcastle as the Champions League round of 16 gets underway on Tuesday.
The Spanish champions travel to St. James’ Park for the first leg, with coach Hansi Flick leaving his players in no doubt about what’s at stake.
“It’s one of the most important moments of the season and we are all ready for it,” he said.
Five-time European champion Barcelona hasn’t won the Champions League since 2015 and has had to watch on as its fiercest rival Real Madrid has dominated the competition.
Flick delivered the Spanish title last season, but his team was knocked out of the Champions League at the semifinals stage. He is aiming to improve on that this time around.
“What I can say is everything here in Barcelona is great,” he said. “I’m here 1 1-2 years and I’m enjoying every single day working with this fantastic team, with these fantastic players, with this staff around.
“Now we are building this club also for the future. This is what we want to do.”
Liverpool travels to Galatasaray on Tuesday and Bayern Munich is away to Atalanta.
Atletico Madrid hosts a Tottenham team that is fighting to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
