AFP,  SYDNEY: Fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the upcoming tour of Bangladesh due to a stress fracture in his back, the second of his young career, Cricket Australia said Thursday. All-rounder James Faulkner will replace Cummins, who suffered lower back pain during the last one-day match against England earlier this month. A scan on Wednesday showed up a new early stage lumbar bone stress fracture on the 22-year-old.
He has been plagued by injury, including a back stress fracture that ruled him out of the entire 2012-13 southern summer. Cummins returned to first-class cricket with Australia-A in July 2013, but suffered a recurrence of the injury and missed most of the 2013-14 domestic season. Part of the Ashes squad this year, he played his only Test in South Africa nearly four years ago. Physiotherapist David Beakley said Cummins will go into a lengthy rehabilitation programme.