Signed from Leicestershire at the end of last season, Ryan Cummins' signature offered Northants lots of potential in the seam attack. Roll on one year and unfortunately an old back injury has cut short his stay here at the County Ground. The 25-year-old remains positive despite his release, and northantscricket.com caught up with the bowler to gather his thoughts and opinions

Sorry to hear about your release Ryan. How do you feel about it?

"The situation is obviously a bit annoying in regards to the fact that I have struggled with injury for the last two years. It's only now really that we are getting to the bottom of the situation as to why I've not been able to play. It was revealed that I had a double stress fracture in my back in June, and it has now become apparent that it was an old stress fracture from my days at Leicestershire. I found this all out last week and I was told about my contract on Monday. It is a shame that I was released for a medical reason and not for statistical or for cricket reasons. My back just wasn't strong enough. Even if I have to stop playing cricket, I know that I will be fine in the future."

You're regarded as a talented bowler, if things were different would you still have liked to have played here at Northants?

"As a club, there is a great vibe! The whole personnel from playing staff to coaching staff to office staff, there is a kind of family atmosphere and I've enjoyed my year here thoroughly. I've worked hard and been as professional as I can be, but unfortunately the cards have been dealt. If the opportunity was there and I had a clean bill of health, I would like to think that I would still be playing here. Hopefully my cricket chapter isn't over; I'm hoping this is just a little blip on the horizon."

How have the other players taken the news of yours and Steven Crook's release?

"I haven't had a chance to talk to Crooky because he hasn't been around but all the boys have come up to me and said things like, 'I'm really sorry to hear the news', most knew I was struggling with my back."

What does the future hold for Ryan Cummins?

"I've hopefully got some work with a club sponsor, WRG, which is pretty good in regards to my degree in Geography. I've had a couple of offers down south from schools regarding teaching work. I'm not really worried about the future. I take everything in my stride and believe things happen for a reason. I'm keeping my options open and making decisions using as much information as possible rather than jumping the gun."

So what would happen if someone came in, when you're fully fit, with an offer to play cricket again?

"I'd like to think that will happen. Statistically I have been very good when I have played and bowled fully fit. Unfortunately though, I haven't bowled fully fit that much. Mentally I have the strength and physically speaking, I'm one of the fittest players here, so all the criteria you supposedly base first class cricket on, I've got. Unfortunately, my back has been misdiagnosed two years ago, and it has kept me off the field."

You're doing some Charity work, being an club ambassador for Northants Cricket's charity of the year MNDA. What are you doing with them?

"In early October I'm doing a combined event with the PCA Benevolent Fund and MNDA called the 'Three Peaks Challenge'. It's over 24 hours and starts up in Glasgow and finishes down in Wales. Any donations or sponsorship money would be warmly appreciated! It will be a great follow up to the Everest trek I did a couple of years ago. It's not quite as far a field or quite as high but to do the three highest peaks in Britain in 24 hours – it's going to be a great experience. If the club can get behind me with that, then that will be superb!"

"I'll also be back for MNDA's Firewalk on November 14^th. Anything like that, I be back and helping out, as I have done all season."