Cummins Racing Against Time for Perth Ashes Test, But Series Hopes Remain Alive
Australia captain Pat Cummins is in a race against time to be fit for the first Ashes Test in Perth, with head coach Andrew McDonald admitting that while the fast bowler has made progress, a final decision will not be made until late next week.
Cummins is recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back and has not bowled since Australia's tour of the Caribbean in July. Although recent scans have shown improvement, he is still yet to resume bowling — a critical step if he is to feature in the opening Test of the five-match series beginning on November 21.
“We still aren't further advanced on whether he'll play the first Test,” McDonald said on Friday. “We are definitely running out of time around that. He's added some variables into his training. I think by this time next week, we'll be in a position where we're better informed to make a judgment around what that first Test match looks like.”
McDonald said Cummins had a “positive week” in rehab and had progressed from lower-leg strength work to incorporating more dynamic elements into his training. However, he stressed that the key variable — bowling — was yet to be added and that rushing Cummins could present risks, including soft tissue injuries.
“If you looked at a reasonable time frame for Patty to get ready, we feel as though he can do a shortened preparation, unlike other bowlers that probably need a longer prep,” McDonald explained. “But even if we were to shrink that prep down, we'd start to take on some risk... is it advantageous for us to get him up and running in a series even if he's a little bit underdone and grow throughout the series as well?”
Series Role Still Likely
Despite the uncertainty around Perth, McDonald remained optimistic that Cummins would still feature in the Ashes at some point.
“I haven't really delved into what it looks like without him for five Test matches because the information and the week that he's had would suggest he's going to play some part as it sits right now,” he said. “Could that go backwards? There is a possibility of that... But at this stage there's no thinking that he will be ruled out for the whole series.”
Replacement Options Lined Up
Should Cummins be unavailable, McDonald is confident Australia can cover his absence, with several bowlers already pushing for selection. Scott Boland, who boasts a staggering Test average of 12.63 in Australia, is a front-runner, while Michael Neser, Sean Abbott, and Brendan Doggett are also in contention.
Doggett is currently sidelined with a minor hamstring issue but is expected to be fit by the third round of the Sheffield Shield. Neser impressed in Queensland's Shield opener, while Abbott is set to return to four-day cricket for New South Wales next week after missing ODI selection.
Leadership Contingency
Cummins’ calm leadership will also be missed if he’s sidelined, but McDonald confirmed that Steve Smith is the likely stand-in captain, pending approval from selection chair George Bailey.
“Steve's incredibly experienced. He's done a good job as recently as Sri Lanka, when Pat wasn't on that tour. So that's the person that we've turned to. I don't see that changing,” McDonald said.
Lower-Order Batting Depth
Cummins’ value with the bat — particularly in pressure situations — is also a consideration. He played crucial roles in Australia’s narrow Test victories at Edgbaston and Christchurch. However, McDonald is confident others can step up, with Mitchell Starc likely to take over the No. 8 role, and contributions expected from Boland, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood, all of whom have recent form with the bat.
With just over six weeks to go until the Ashes opener, all eyes will be on Cummins’ progress in the coming days as Australia weighs up the balance between fitness, form, and risk.