The fast bowler, Pat Cummins in Australia, has officially been sidelined in the first Ashes Test in Perth, owing to back injury. He will however carry on bowling this week with an attempt of being fit to play the second Test in Brisbane. Steven Smith will be
lead of Australia in the first test against England which starts on November 21 with the second test in Brisbane commencing on December 4.
Cummins was not expected to turn up as it was announced earlier this month that he was not going to be able to resume bowling because of a spinal stress injury he had found out in September. He received the injury because he was feeling uncomfortable as he was going back to the tour of the West Indies.
“We’ve run out of time. We sort of flagged this a week or so ago that it would take sort of four plus weeks to get him up and running and we’ve run out of time, unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match,” said head coach Andrew McDonald to reporters in Canberra as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“So I suppose the next question is what’s the time frame? What does it look like for the second Test? Not really going to be able to answer that other than to say that he’ll be back bowling this week and that’s a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in and get that information. So we’re on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome,” he added.
Cummins’ reaction during the early phases of his return to bowling will be critical in assessing whether a Brisbane comeback is a realistic goal or if a later return in the series is a safer bet. Since recovering from back ailments that sidelined him early in his career, leading in a five-and-a-half-year gap between his first and second Test appearances, the current red-ball captain has maintained an amazing fitness record.
“[We’ll] see how he pulls up and then we’ll make decisions moving forward. I know that sounds really boring and everyone wants a time frame and what’s the risk associated with it. There’s better people than I to speculate on what that is,” said McDonald.
“With the nature of this injury, it’s never going to be a clear time frame and I think that’s what everyone here wants is a time frame to say, this is definitely what will happen. We’re not in a position to do that and I’d never put the medical team under that sort of duress either.”
Andrew McDonald
Andrew McDonald admits Australia will miss Pat Cummins’ leadership in Ashes opener
Smith has captained Australia six times as Cummins’ deputy since 2021, winning five of them, including one during the 2021-22 Ashes in Adelaide when Cummins was ruled out due to COVID-19 close contact. Cummins’ absence from Australia’s assault for the first Test means that Scott Boland, who scored a hat-trick in the team’s most recent series against the West Indies, will most likely keep his position in the lineup.
“Losing your captain’s not ideal, but when you talk about Scott Boland being the potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in. Ideally we want the captain available for stability and decision making but…Steven Smith will slide into that position.”
Andrew McDonald
“I suppose you get excited about when he does come back, what an injection that will be to the group, a fully fit Pat Cummins returning some stage during the Ashes and that’s what we’re hopeful for.”
Andrew McDonald
The hosts’ first Test squad is anticipated to be announced next week, following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches, which starts on Tuesday. Cummins will travel with the team despite his inability to play, as he continues his recovery and gradual return to bowling.
“It’ll almost be one of those things where you’ll see him at work and it’ll almost be a question of why isn’t he playing in Perth? That’s where we think he’ll be placed by that stage. So we’re excited by getting eyes on him in a bowling capacity.”
Andrew McDonald
