Cummins provides fitness update on troublesome back injury
Australia skipper Pat Cummins is aiming to return to face England in the second Test in Brisbane.
Australia captain Pat Cummins is confident he will be able to return from injury and play a part in the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane.
The Aussies named their squad for the first Test against England on Wednesday and Cummins was a notable absentee as he continues to recover from his long-term back ailment.
Cummins revealed he will travel to Perth with his teammates to amp ump his training and is hoping he will be fit to play the second Test at the Gabba from December 4.
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The Australia captain did, however, remain tight-lipped about his prospects of backing up quickly and being able to play two Tests in quick succession across the five-match Ashes series.
“I don’t really want to commit to anything this far out,” Cummins told Australian broadcaster Channel 7.
“I’m pretty keen to play as much as I can, but realistically, if we have a big game and I bowl 40 or 50 overs and then there’s a game that starts a few days later, it might be a bridge too far.
“I’m trying to get right, and if I get right then hopefully, I’ll try to play most of it as I can.
“That’s the aim and we’re building our plan to the second Test. It’s probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you’re at. We’re trying to keep that second Test as a live option.
“I’ll have a really good bowl in Perth, and by then I’ll know where I’m at.”
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With Cummins sidelined the Aussies named Scott Boland, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett as fast bowling options for the first Test in Perth, with one of the trio likely to partner regular seamers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood and first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon in Australia's final XI.
Boland appears the most likely to feature out of the back-up pacers with the right-armer having successfully filled the void in recent times, while the Aussies are still waiting to determining whether star all-rounder Cameron Green will be fit enough to bowl during the first Test.
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If Cummins is able to prove his fitness ahead of the Brisbane Test then he will return for the day-night contest and the Australian skipper suggested this remains his target.
“It (his recovery) has been really good. Yesterday was probably a three-quarter run-up for seven or eight overs, and it’s all feeling good so I’m on track. It’s probably better than expected,” he said.
“(I’m bowling) at about 115 or 120(km/h). I’ll have a bit of a bowl later in the week. Each session is incremental so it’ll be a little bit more intense, and once I go over to Perth it should be pretty close to a full run-up, and I’ll get some overs in.
“It’s absolutely fine. There’s no stress so far. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but all the signs look pretty good so far.
“I’ve had the same injury a few times – albeit quite a while ago – so I know what to expect. With any break from bowling, you’re going to feel a few aches and creaks. I felt that but I know it’s all normal.
“I feel really good and feel like we’ve got a really good plan so hopefully I’ll take part in a fair bit of the summer.”
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Australia's squad (first Test only): Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
England's squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood
Series schedule:
First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-25
Second Test: Gabba, December 4-8
Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21
Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30
Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8