Pat Cummins aims to prove himself capable in the clutch during Sydney Thunder’s BBL campaign and make his case for a World Cup berth.

The 21-year-old tearaway paceman has set his sights on a spot in Australia’s World Cup squad with a view to also returning to the Test arena next year.

Cummins spent two years out of the Australian set-up because of recurring back and foot injuries before playing in Australia’s home T20 and ODI series against South Africa last month.

But he’s back to full fitness and bowling at 100 per cent pace, despite constant injury setbacks limiting him to just one Test, seven ODIs and 14 T20 internationals in three years.

Cummins said he had worked hard on proving himself a reliable death bowler over the last year, something which would be highly valued by Australian management when selecting their World Cup squad.

“(The BBL) is the only cricket between now and the World Cup and in T20 death bowling can translate in one-day cricket,” he said.

Along with Michael Hussey and South African great Jacques Kallis, Cummins is one of the Thunder’s marquee recruits as the franchise aims to avoid its fourth consecutive wooden spoon.

Tagged as a future leader of the Australian bowling arsenal, he spent time with the national team coaches during the Adelaide Test.

After playing his only Test back in 2011 – against South Africa as an 18-year-old – he is eyeing returning to the longer form of the international game in Australia’s upcoming away series against the West Indies and England.

He played a recent round of grade cricket for club side Penrith and says he will put his hand up for Sheffield Shield when it resumes in February.

“It gave me a lot of confidence playing those (international) ODIs and T20s, you’re never really sure of where you’re at until you play and I probably surprised myself,” he said.

“I was really happy with how it all went and fortunately we won a few games.

Hopefully I can carry that into the T20s (but) Test cricket is what everyone’s really keen to play and I can’t wait to get back to long-form first-class cricket and trying to get a spot in that Test side.”

The Thunder begin their BBL season against the Brisbane Heat at ANZ Stadium on December 21.