This afternoon the first of the Patrick Cummins fuelled PR events starts. He’ll join Nick Buchanan to promote the Sydney Sixer’s Big Bash League clash with the Brisbane Heat at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 16.
The 18 year old is now the logical choice to front the cameras after his heroics in South Africa, but just how much Big Bash cricket Cummins will see over the coming months remains unclear.
Michael Clarke has already revealed his concerns about the young paceman playing all three forms of the game and has called for his workload to be managed as his development continues.
While Clarke will play a large role in how big that workload will be the Australian captain won’t have total control.
It will be interesting to see how many times Cummins turns out for the Sixers with cricket Australia keen to get the turnstiles ticking in the BBL’s inaugural season.
The Sixers match against the Heat starts three days after the second Test against New Zealand finishes.
You assume (more like hope) he’ll be unavailable for the games against the Hobart Hurricanes (21st Dec), Melbourne Stars (27th December) and Melbourne Renegades (2nd January) due to commitments with the Australian Test team.
From there it gets a little murky.
The Sixers take on cross town rivals the Sydney Thunder at ANZ Stadium one day after the second Test against India finishes at the SCG.
It’s a marquee fixture in a huge market and it’s hard to see Cummins missing the showdown.
Their next two matches against the Adelaide Strikers at the Adelaide Oval (10th January) and the Perth Scorchers (18th January) fall before and after the third Test against India in Perth so that should rule him out, but there is the possibility of playing in the semi-finals if the Sixers make it that far.
Cummins long-term fitness should be the main priority this summer and it would be ideal for the teenager to not have to go near a Sixers jersey.
Performing at Test level should be his only concern at this stage. Even one-day cricket, both domestic and international, could be too much until he matures.
He’s an exceptional talent, but it won’t help him or Australian cricket if he’s broken down with a back injury by the age of 25.
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