Australia’s Ashes campaign faces uncertainty as star captain Pat Cummins’ availability for the opening Test against England hangs in the balance. Head coach Andrew McDonald has provided an update on the lumbar bone stress injury affecting the pace spearhead. While Cummins has undergone scans showing improvement, the timeline for his return is becoming increasingly critical.
McDonald acknowledged that ‘time is definitely running out’ for Cummins to be fit for the first Test in Perth. A final decision on his inclusion is expected within the next week, but the coach emphasized the tight schedule. “We still aren’t further advanced on whether he’ll play the first Test. We are definitely running out of time around that,” McDonald stated. He added that Cummins has introduced new elements into his training regime, and by this time next week, a clearer picture will emerge.
Despite the looming deadline for the first Test, McDonald remains optimistic that Cummins could still feature in the series. “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 commented. The recovery process for lumbar bone stress is described as a journey, with players needing to carefully manage training variables and recovery. The coach indicated that while the situation is fluid, there is currently no indication that Cummins will be ruled out for the entire Ashes series.
