“Probably Less Likely Than Likely” – Australia Captain Pat Cummins on Injury Recovery and Ashes Availability

Australian captain Pat Cummins has finally spoken about whether he will be ready for the Ashes series. He said it is “probably less likely than likely” that he will play in the first Test in Perth starting November 21. Cummins has been out with a lower back injury since the West Indies tour in July and recent scans showed slower progress than the team had hoped.

Even so, Cummins told reporters in Sydney at the Kayo Sports’ Summer of Cricket launch that he is working hard to be available for the early matches. He has not yet started full bowling in training but is aiming to get back in time to help the team.

"I'd say probably less likely than likely. But we've still got a bit of time. I'm running today and running kind of every second day, and each runs a little bit longer, and then we get into bowling prep next week. So I'm probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on the turf. But it's been a good couple of weeks. Each session feels better and better." Cummins said.

Cummins said it is still too early to say how many games he might miss, though the coaching staff remain confident about his chances. The first Test is five and a half weeks away, the second in Brisbane starts about two weeks later, and there is another 12-day gap before the Adelaide Test, giving him more time to get ready.

“The immediate goal is to make sure I’m giving myself a chance to be right for as much of it as possible. It’s really too early to kind of make some big decisions. You’re just trying to tick off each session. With these things, it’s pretty hard to go from not bowling or anything at all to suddenly playing five Tests. The first step is trying to give us a shot at being right, and then we’ll work it out a bit closer.”

“I’m actually feeling really good at the moment,” the Test skipper said. “A few of the symptoms hung around for a little bit longer than I would have liked, but they’re all gone now. So I’m just trying to kind of increase the workload and make sure the body’s responding well.”

Cummins said he is not in serious pain but sometimes feels stiffness after recently starting to run again. If he cannot play, Scott Boland is expected to take his place in the team. Cummins plans to travel with the squad to Perth regardless of whether he plays and stay with the team throughout the series.

“Even if that first Test I’m not playing, I’m hopefully very close to playing and prepping,” Cummins said. “And that’s where all the physios and coaches and players are.”

×

New Zealand Announces Squad for England T20Is Amid Injury Concerns; Kane Williamson to Miss Series New Zealanԁ Cricket (NZC) announceԁ on Sunԁay that Kane Williamson will not play in the T20I series at home against Englanԁ.

by IPL Web Desk October 13, 2025