Australia captain Pat Cummins said Friday he is targeting the Indian Premier League to make his return from a niggling injury that sidelined him from the Champions Trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 31-year-old quick has been struggling with a long-standing left ankle issue that flared during the Test series win over India in December-January.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He missed the dominant two-Test victory in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, where a Steve Smith-led Australia open their account against England on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins told cricket.com.au he aimed to honour his contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad when the IPL starts on March 22.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The ankle is starting to come good," he said. "It's a funny one –- it's not like a hamstring where you need six weeks (to recover).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's one of those ones where it really just needs a bit (more) rest to settle down.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So we just ran out of time for Pakistan."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins said the injury was not new or an issue that would affect him long term.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's just one of those ones you've got to manage. A bit of a break now, hopefully it sets it up for the next year or so," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Following the IPL, Australia play the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on June 11 before a three-Test tour of the West Indies that runs into July.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cummins said the intensity of the IPL would be adequate preparation to resume red-ball cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Physically it's quite a nice build-up for the World Test Championship final, and then the Test matches after that," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n