Australian captain Pat Cummins has set his sights on the T20 World Cup after completing a successful hit-and-run mission in the Ashes series.

Cummins missed the first two Tests after his much-publicised back injury, but made a brilliant return in Adelaide to pick up six wickets in the series-clinching win.

With the Ashes urn safely in hand, Australia decided to rule Cummins out for the remainder of the series.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

The 32-year-old said the risk of playing back-to-back Tests was too high.

He will now res tup before targeting the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, which begins in early February.

Pat Cummins was brilliant in Adelaide but is no certainty for the T20 World Cup. Credit: AAP

“Feeling good, so got through Adelaide unscathed so pretty happy,” he told Channel 7 during the lunch break on Boxing Day.

“As of a few weeks ago, was still coming back from a back injury so playing back-to-back Test matches was pretty high risk.

“Cool our heels for a little bit with T20 World Cup next month.”

Cummins’ optimism is good sign after coach Andrew McDonald said his chances of playing in the tournament were far from certain.

After lifting the trophy in 2021, Australia’s last two tilts at the T20 crown have been underwhelming.

Although Cummins captains the Test and ODI teams, allrounder Mitch Marsh leads Australia in the shortest format.

“I’m assuming, he’ll have a check-in scan at some point and gather more information around where his back is at,” McDonald said earlier this week.

“Looking forward to the World Cup, whether he will be there or not, I can’t really say.

“It’s quite grey at the moment. We’re hopeful.”

Meanwhile, Cummins said veteran spinner Nathan Lyon is facing a lengthy period out following surgery on his hamstring.

Lyon suffered the injury on the final day of the Adelaide Test and immediately went under the knife.

Australia’s next Test after this summer isn’t due until August, giving him plenty of time to recover for that two-match Top End series against Bangladesh.

The 38-year-old is with the squad in Melbourne, supporting his teammates from the change rooms.

“He had surgery a couple of days ago, so he’ll have a lengthy layoff, I don’t know exactly, but will be at least a few months,” Cummins said.

“Bit of a long road ahead for him, but he’s done it before so hopefully he’ll be back.

“It was a big one, so surgery, and he has his crutches in the change room at the moment so we wish best ... it was a shame but he put a brave face after the Test.”

With no Lyon, Australia opted for an all-out pace attack in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

- With AAP