Cape Town - Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins' road back to the national side has taken another detour, as he has been ruled out of the A-side's series against India and South Africa in the coming months.
The injury-prone paceman has been recovering from a lower back stress fracture for months, and while he was named in the squad for the A side's home series, the selectors have opted to hold him back a bit longer.
Cummins has not played since September last year, in an one-day international, and will instead make his comeback for New South Wales in the Matador Cup as the medics look to manage his workload.
CA selector Rod Marsh said: "Pat is going really well with his rehabilitation but is unlikely be ready to play at full match intensity during the Australia A tour.
"After discussions with Pat and the medical staff, we have decided to wait an extra month and look for him to return for New South Wales in the Matador Cup."
Another player to withdraw from the A side is batsman Travis Head, who has opted to extend his stay with English county side Yorkshire with a view to the Ashes in future.
Australia 'A' team: Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, Travis Dean, Peter Handscomb, Sam Heazlett, Moises Henriques, Jake Lehmann, Chris Lynn, Joe Mennie, Kurtis Patterson, Joel Paris, Matt Renshaw, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Chris Tremain, Dan Worrall, Sam Whiteman