Pat Cummins Insists Australian Cricket and Tests Remain His Top Priority
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins says nothing has changed in his priorities amid contract talk, and reports his back is fully healed.
By SportCricket Desk · 20 May 2026 · 2 min read
Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has said his commitment to national duty is unchanged, with Test cricket at the top of his list.
Contract speculation
His comments follow reports earlier this month that several senior Australian players were unhappy with the first central contract offers from Cricket Australia. Speaking at the New Balance Grey Days 2026 event, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, Cummins said that as Test captain he never wants to miss a match and will make himself available for as many Australian games as he can.
The IPL and the schedule
Cummins plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL and said the tournament usually fits into Australia’s holiday break, which makes it manageable. He does not expect that approach to change in the next few years.
He is expected to miss the upcoming white-ball series in Bangladesh and Pakistan, but remains central to Australia’s long-term Test plans. The schedule ahead of the 2027 IPL is heavy: ten Tests between December and March, a five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India, and an Ashes series in England.
Fitness update
On his back, which has been a concern in the past, Cummins said he feels great and that it has healed fully and is strong. He explained that the rehabilitation was deliberately low risk so that he could give himself the best chance of playing every Test.
Australia’s first Test assignment after the IPL is at home against Bangladesh, starting on 13 August.
