As the Ashes series approaches, Australian cricket is closely monitoring the fitness of its captain, Pat Cummins, who is recovering from lumbar bone stress. Head coach Andrew McDonald has provided a candid assessment of the situation, suggesting that the team is running out of time to integrate Cummins back into the squad for the opening Test against England.
Cummins’ lower back injury has raised concerns about his availability for the start of the Ashes. Although scans have indicated positive signs of recovery, McDonald emphasized the increasingly tight schedule. “We are definitely running out of time around that,” he stated, referring to the deadline for selecting the team for the first Test in Perth. A clearer picture of Cummins’ readiness is expected by next week, after he has incorporated new training variables.
Despite the immediate concern, McDonald remains optimistic about Cummins’ overall participation in the Ashes. He indicated that the current information suggests Cummins will play a role in the series, even if it means missing the initial match. “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 remarked. He also noted that recovery from such injuries can be unpredictable, but ruled out the possibility of Cummins being sidelined for the entire series at this point.