Cricket Australia’s Cummins wants to play until 35, wary of burnout | Mighty 790 KFGO

SYDNEY (Reuters) Australia captain Pat Cummins wants to play another five years of international cricket but has already suffered one burnout episode that forced him to reassess his life balance.

The 30-year-old pacer played his first Test as a teenager in South Africa in 2011, but didn’t play another until six years later after being treated for a series of injuries.

After returning to Australian colours, however, he quickly discovered the almost unrelenting demands of today’s top players.

Cricket basically 12 months a year, he told former England footballer Rio Ferdinand with Get Real on the Rio vodcast.

There is always a game of cricket going on somewhere, and I played non-stop for a year or two. This is about four or five years ago, I just came back from my injuries.

And I was just worn out, like burned out, and I just remember thinking, Yep, I’m 25 here, but I want to do this until I’m 35. I have to find a way to balance all these different things.

Cumminss last action came during Australia’s tour of India earlier this year, from which he left early to return home to his terminally ill mother.

She said her death from breast cancer in March was still pretty raw, but she was glad he had been able to spend time with her and her family.

I think it hits home to be the kind of person you want to be, the kind of father you want to be. So from that point of view, it’s been really good. Lots of memories, he said.

But as far as grief goes, I think just keep going through it.

Next up for Cummins and Australia is the World Cup final against India in London next month, quickly followed by a five-Test Ashes series against England.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney Editing by Peter Rutherford)