Although Pat Cummins has acknowledged that it could be challenging to play through the remainder of the series unaltered, he is still on schedule to make a comeback for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
As he plans a methodical comeback from a back ailment that has kept the Test captain out of action since July, Cummins has advanced to bowling off a three-quarter run up.
The 32-year-old anticipates being bowling at full speed before the start of the first Test after completing nearly eight overs in the nets on Wednesday.
Since his successful comeback to bowling, Cummins has not experienced any severe discomfort, and there are no indications that the stress injury in his lower back has returned.
Although officials have been evasive about whether Cummins will play in the second Test in Brisbane beginning in four weeks, the captain still has a real opportunity.
Cummins stated, “That’s the aim and we’re building our plan to the second Test,” during Thursday’s cricket premiere on the Seven Network. “You probably won’t be able to truly know where you are until you get a little closer.
“The good news is that my physique is fantastic and I’m pulling up nicely.
“We’re working to maintain the possibility of that second test. I’ll know where I’m at by the time I have a great bowl in Perth.”
When he does return, playing every Test match this summer won’t be so simple, Cummins admits. The second and third tests are separated by eight days, whereas the third, fourth, and fifth tests are separated by only four days.
That has already been noted by Australian officials as a summertime pressure point for bowlers, especially if Test matches go on and the home team spends a lot of time on the field.
Cummins remarked, “I’m pretty keen to play as much as I can,” However, in practice, it might be too much to ask if we bowl 40 or 50 overs during a huge game and then play another match a few days later.
“I’m trying to get right, and if I get right then hopefully I’ll try to play most of it as I can.”
In order to get his body ready for Test cricket, Cummins stated he did not believe he would require a Sheffield Shield warm-up, a tour match against England or the England Lions with the Prime Minister’s XI or Cricket Australia XI, or a grade cricket match.
Rather, the pace leader for Australia will travel to Perth next week along with the rest of the team to spend the Test with the coaching staff.
“Before the 2023 ODI World Cup I flew over to South Africa and watched the last couple of ODIs there,” Cummins stated. In actuality, the vista differed greatly from the coach’s box. It’s an alternative viewpoint.
“I’m hoping that the Test will help me learn certain things from being in that situation that I can utilize later in the series.
Or perhaps I have a different perspective from up there and Steve Smith needs something.
“But being close to the game and the conversations, I think I will need that going into the second or third Test.”
In Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will front the pace attack; Scott Boland, who claimed a hat-trick in Australia’s most recent Test match in the West Indies, will retain his position.
In his upcoming Sheffield Shield encounter, Australia hopes that all-rounder Cameron Green will be able to bowl up to 20 overs, giving Beau Webster the opportunity to continue as a backup all-rounder.
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