Next Friday, a decision regarding Pat Cummins‘ availability for the first Ashes Test will be made. Although Australia coach Andrew McDonald acknowledges that his skipper is running out of time to be fit for Perth, there is still hope that Cummins will participate in the series.
The lumbar bone tension in Cummins’ lower back was scanned earlier this week, and McDonald confirmed on Friday that the problem has improved.
There are questions regarding Cummins’ availability because he has yet to bowl with six weeks till the first Test starts in Perth on November 21.
McDonald claimed that the most recent scan had given Cummins and the medical team the opportunity to incorporate some new training components into his regimen, which had been limited to lower-leg strength exercises for the previous month. A judgement regarding his ability to advance to bowling in order to play in the first Test match will be made late next week, he added, although he acknowledged that the timeframe was becoming quite constrained.
McDonald told reporters Friday, “We haven’t made any progress on whether he will play the first Test.” “There is no doubt that we are running out of time on that. He has incorporated a few variables into his training. I believe that by this time next week, we will have enough information to judge what that first Test match will look like.
His week has been good, so we’ll simply wait for that information to arrive. If you are aware of the nature of such ailments, you can add variables to your training, and the key is how you recover from doing so. It’s slower than most people believe. We’re hopeful for a good result on Friday, after which we’ll make some judgements about the first Test match.
“The biggest variable that we need to add in is bowling and 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. But even if we were to shrink that prep down, we’d start to take on some risk around soft tissue [injuries], some skill readiness as well, making sure he’s prepared to do the job there.” – Andrew McDonald on the balancing act with Pat Cummins
McDonald had a fair amount of confidence that Cummins could contribute to the Ashes series, even if he was left out of the first Test.
“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,” McDonald explained.
“Can that alter when we begin to introduce additional variables into his training in light of new information? Could that be reversed? It is possible that it will happen. Those who have experienced lumbar bone stress would also know that adding those factors, which include how you pull up and recuperate, might cause some fluctuations throughout the rehabilitation process. Thus, we will only observe how it transpires. At this point, it is unlikely that he will miss the entire series.
After fewer than six weeks of bowling training, McDonald thinks Cummins might be ready for the first Test match in Perth. However, he stated that the medical staff, Cummins, and the selectors would need to balance the benefits and risks of hurrying him back.
“The biggest variable that we need to add in is bowling and 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 around soft tissue [injuries], some skill readiness as well, making sure he’s prepared to do the job there and then 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.”
In the event that Cummins was sidelined, McDonald was sure the team could cover for him in every facet of the match.
Although Cummins’ bowling will be greatly missed, Scott Boland, who has an amazing Test record in Australia with an average of 12.63, was already vying for a first-choice berth in the starting lineup.
Australia’s quicks like Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, and Sean Abbott will be considered if one of them sustains another injury.
Due to a slight hamstring injury, Doggett will miss South Australia’s second consecutive Sheffield Shield match. However, this is reportedly a conservative move, and he will be completely recovered for the third round, which begins on October 28. After being dropped out of the ODI squad to play India, Abbott will play his first four-day encounter of the season for New South Wales against Victoria next week. Neser bowled brilliantly in Queensland’s opening Shield match against Tasmania. He will not be able to participate in the third Shield round at least because he was picked in the T20I squad.
McDonald thinks Steven Smith, a brilliant tactician, would step in with ease if necessary, but he would also miss Cummins’ composed leadership in what would otherwise be a chaotic Ashes.
“It’s highly likely that Steve would be that the person that we turn to,” McDonald added. “George Bailey would need to do that task. Steve has a great deal of expertise. When Pat wasn’t on the tour, he performed admirably as recently as Sri Lanka. Thus, we have resorted to that guy. That won’t change, in my opinion.
Cummins’ batting performances at No. 8 in recent years have also been crucial, especially under pressure, as he helped Australia win two Test matches in thrilling run chases at Edgbaston and Christchurch.
After an outstanding showing in the World Test Championship final in June, McDonald was certain Mitchell Starc could return to No. 8, and he pointed to Boland and Nathan Lyon’s pivotal tenth-wicket partnership against India at the MCG last summer as evidence of their potential. In Test matches with Cameron Green and Starc over the past two years, Josh Hazlewood has also had impressive tenth wicket stands.
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