Cummins has waited a long time to bowl with the red ball but does not appear to have lost any of the tricks that propelled him onto the world stage four years ago.

The 22-year-old has not played a first-class game in two years and worn the whites just twice since his memorable Test debut but has been working hard since the World Cup in case of a shock Ashes call-up.

He spent two months in India during the Indian Premier League where he played just three games, building up his volumes in the nets, before clocking up more miles at Cricket Australia's National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

In an ominous sign for England's batsmen Cummins was able to extract swing from the SG Ball, which he was using in preparation for Australia A's tour to India. The Duke ball is said to be much more swing friendly.

"I didn't play a lot of games over there [in the IPL] so I was able to bowl a lot in the nets and work on a few things, to keep bowling in case anything like this did happen or at the very least to prepare for Australia A in the middle of the year," Cummins said.

"I'm certainly swinging the ball quite a bit and starting to learn those little things that come with red-ball cricket."

Cummins broke the 150km/h barrier last summer and although he has not been clocked at the NCC he feels the signs are positive he has not lost speed during his time out.

Cummins is not yet at the age where his body is fully hardened to the rigours of fast bowling but is confident he can withstand the heat.

"The nature of fast bowling – you'd be pretty silly to think you're immune from all injuries, but the body feels really, really good," Cummins said.

"That's after 18 or 24 months of straight bowling. I couldn't be happier with where my body is and I feel I am as ready as I ever will be to step up. It's probably the first time the body is something I don't have to worry about."

Cummins says that's a tick for the program drawn up in 2013 by Cricket Australia, who limited their budding star to the limited-overs formats in order to reduce his risk of injury.

"It's always frustrating as a young bowler, I'm really impatient and sometimes it's hard to be held back a little bit," Cummins said. "Certainly last year with the World Cup that was the main goal.

"After the World Cup and the final I reflected and thought it was definitely the right call. I couldn't be happier with the whole process. It's got me now into a position where I can play red ball and be really confident in my body."

Cummins is eagerly awaiting the chance to play a longer-form game.

"It's something I've thought about in the last couple of years – getting back to the challenges of bowling 20 overs a day and doing it again," Cummins said.

"I just love the contest and the rigours that comes with it. The prospect of being part of the Ashes and seeing first-hand and maybe being involved in a game is pretty exciting."