Teenage quick Pat Cummins says he has no regrets about taking painkilling injections on his Test debut despite nursing a serious heel injury that will sideline him until January.
But Cummins, 18, said he would reconsider playing in the Indian Premier League as Australian captain Michael Clarke rammed home the fact Test cricket must be a player's number one priority.
As questions were raised over Cummins being fast-tracked into Test cricket, the New South Wales speedster revealed he had taken injections on debut in South Africa for what he thought was a soft-tissue injury.
Cummins is expected to miss the home Test series against India after more scans revealed a bone stress injury in his heel.
However, Cummins was confident playing through the pain during his man-of-the-match display on Test debut would not have worsened the condition.
"I think it was well damaged before I started taking the painkillers," Cummins told Sky Sports Radio.
"I took the painkillers but I would have done it 10 out of 10 times again.
"You're not going to stop bowling in the middle of a Test match just because you've got a hunch that you've got a bruised heel or something like that."
Cummins has all but given up on chiming into the four-Test series with India starting on Boxing Day.
"You certainly can't just come straight back into Test cricket," said Cummins, who may not start bowling again until mid-January.
"You've lost almost a month or two worth of workload so you've got to get everything back up and hopefully Twenty20 cricket's a bit easier to get up for and hopefully I can get into the Big Bash."
Cummins' Test elevation after just three first-class games raised eyebrows, with former Test skipper Steve Waugh describing Cricket Australia's promotion of young bowlers as "ridiculous".
Waugh had also suggested CA or senior players caution the injury-prone Cummins about playing IPL.
Clarke did not think it should be up to him to lecture his young charge, but made it clear what he thought a player's top priority should be.
"I don't know if it is my place to be honest," he said in Hobart.
"It is up to the individual player.
"But if Patty wants to speak to me I would be more than happy to give him my views.
"I don't want to see players not prioritising international cricket, and Test cricket being the pinnacle of that.
"These competitions (IPL, Champions League) have been wonderful for the game ... but in the Australian team I would like to see them prioritise playing for their country first and if your body can handle it go for it (Twenty20) - not the other way around."
Cummins said he would reconsider playing the IPL if it affected international duties.
"I think it'd be great to play but we'll look at it again closer to the date and if it's going to affect any other cricket over here I'll (reconsider)," he said.
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, australia First posted December 08, 2011 18:52:17
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