Pat Cummins hopeful of being fit for second West Indies Test as Australia call-up Lance Morris

AMEY KULKARNI: Cummins held himself back from bowling in the Windies' second innings to protect the problem. Morris and Queensland's Michael Neser have been added to the group

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Australia skipper Pat Cummins is hopeful of being fit for the second Test against West Indies after suffering a quad strain during the win in Perth.

Cummins held himself back from bowling in the Windies' second innings and though he did take to the field refrained from running for the ball in the outfield to protect the problem.

Queensland pair Lance Morris and Michael Neser have been added to the squad for the match at the Adelaide Oval starting on December 8.

"I felt okay," Cummins said. "It was more not trying to run as opposed to being restricted to run. I felt all right. If it got a bit tighter, I was going to have a bowl but pretty happy I managed not to bowl to give myself a good chance.

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Lance Morris, the leading wicket-taker in this season's Sheffield Shield (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

"It's just a small strain so normally about a one-weeker, and if you bowl you make it worse and can make it longer. I'll spend the next few days rehabbing getting it right and I think it's a pretty good chance I'll be good for Adelaide."

Western Australia's Morris is the leading wicket-taker in this season's Sheffield Shield with 27 at 18.40 and would offer extra pace on home turf.

Neser, who made his only Test appearance in Adelaide during last summer's Ashes series, is third in the list with 24 at 14.50.

Scott Boland, who has not played since his Ashes breakthrough, is the backup seamer in the squad.

Cummins will have to balance whether to risk his fitness for the second Test with the South Africa series, which starts on December 17, on the horizon.

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Michael Neser is back in the fray (Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

"Was he at risk out there doing what he was doing? No," said head coach Andrew McDonald after the 164-run win.

"He was able to manage the tempo in which he ran. We felt as though him being out there was helping us so that we were in control of the game.

"We can leave it right up to the toss if we want [to determine his availability]. He's our captain, we're going to give him every chance to get out there, and even the way he marshalled the troops out there was impressive."


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