Former Australia captain Steve Waugh warned Pat Cummins about his Indian Premier League ambitions after it emerged injury would sideline the talented teen for most of the summer.
Cummins' manager Neil Maxwell confirmed the 18-year-old Test paceman plans to nominate for the IPL auction, which could set him up for a $1 million pay cheque.
However, Wednesday's revelation that Cummins has been re-diagnosed with a bone stress injury in his heel which will sideline him until January highlights concerns about the risks of over-taxing his young body.
"The priority has got to be playing for Australia, the baggy green is number one and everything else slots in underneath that," Waugh said on Wednesday.
"Obviously there's money to be made from the IPL, but I think as a young guy with his potential and his star quality, he's going to make a lot of money out of the game of cricket.
"IPL right now should be a fair way down on his radar.
"And if his body is a little bit susceptible to injury right now his commitment has got to be playing for Australia first."
While the decision is solely Cummins' to make, Waugh feels Cricket Australia and senior figures of the Australian team should be giving cautionary advice.
"I think they (Cricket Australia) should (be talking to him about joining the IPL)," said Waugh.
"The senior players, people in like Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer as the batting coach, these guys know the value and what it means to play for Australia and I'm sure they'll be in his ear."
Cummins is among a raft of team members sidelined along with Shane Watson (hamstring), Ryan Harris (hip), Mitchell Johnson (toe) and Shaun Marsh (back) ahead of the four-match series against India starting on December 26.
Waugh admitted he was salivating at the prospect of seeing the teen paceman line up against some of the statesman of the sport.
"It's obviously frustrating and disappointing, especially someone like Pat Cummins," he said.
"I would have loved to see him go at it with Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.
"It would have been a real sight to see - the real young gun going up against the older, experienced legends of the game."
Injured paceman Brett Lee has also spoken out about the struggles of staying fit.
The 35-year-old said injury and bowling fast in Test cricket tend to go hand in hand.
"People are starting to realise now that fast bowling is a very, very hard thing to do," Lee said.
"If you think about what we put our bodies through day-in day-out, the guys playing Test match cricket - I've had 12 operations. It's a pretty tough job so I'm not surprised that guys do get injured.
"We want no one to go out there and get injured but it's just the nature of the beast.
"We're always on the cusp of getting injured otherwise there'd be a thousand guys lining up to try and bowl 150 kilometres per hour, which doesn't happen."
Lee, who is targeting an international return in next year's limited overs matches against India and Sri Lanka, believes physical education will play a crucial part in Cummins' future.
"It's also important to see that the guys understand what is an injury that they can actually play through... (and) what is a serious injury where they need to get away from the game," he said.
Nonetheless, Lee is confident Cummins has the mettle to deal with the likely setbacks.
"He'll be fine. He'll be back firing," he said.
Australian opener Phil Hughes meanwhile is under immense pressure to hold his place after scores of 10 and seven in the first Test against New Zealand.
But Waugh has backed a return to form for the left-hander.
"I'd love to see him stay in the side," he said.
"He's done really well, he's a proven run-getter and he's got the fire in the belly.
"His technique is never going to please everybody, but that doesn't matter. It's about how many runs you score not how you look.
"I'm hoping he'll get another chance in Hobart because I think he's a long-term opener for Australia."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, australia, india First posted December 07, 2011 18:41:10
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