Australia hopeful captain will be fit for second Ashes Test in Brisbane
David Warner has his doubts.
“I think they’re probably keeping some secrets because they’ve gone to the bunker inside,” Warner said at a Kayo Sports event earlier this month. “Cummins doesn’t need to gallop. He can just go out and bowl. He won’t want to go out there short-handed.”
Test captain Pat Cummins and Australia coach Andrew McDonald.Credit: Getty Images
After three hours of speculation that Cummins might be better off shelving the Ashes and preparing for the Big Bash, head coach Andrew McDonald showed the first optimism in weeks when he spoke in Canberra on Monday.
He said medical staff were “really optimistic and hopeful” that Cummins would be fit for the second Test in Brisbane, which starts on December 4, and would bowl this week.
“This is a huge step,” McDonald said. “We are on our way to the second Test match.”
Cummins had previously said he wanted to bowl for at least a month before returning to Test cricket. If he had bowled for the first time on Friday, hypothetically, it would have left him less than five weeks away from the Gabba Test.
Australian captain Pat Cummins. Credit: Getty Images for Cricket Australia
But net bowling is very different from bowling 20-plus overs on a hot day when wickets are hard to come by.
There is a Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Tasmania in Sydney from 22-25 November but Cummins is unlikely to target that match. It is not too early yet, he is also planned to join the national team in the first test to be held between 21-25 November.
Loading
The Blues will then face Queensland at the SCG from 5-8 December, which will overlap with the second Test.
There is also an Australia A match against the England Lions at the Allan Border Field from December 5 – just down the road from the Gabba – where several young England batsmen could be in for a rude shock if the Australian skipper tries to prove his fitness for the third Test in Adelaide, which starts on December 17.
Just because Cummins bowls this week doesn’t mean the road will be smooth from here. CA will not risk a back injury (at least their captain’s) with a long-term reward (winning the Ashes series away in 2027).
According to CA’s latest news, which comes 25 days after the opening Test, November 9 appears to be the next checkpoint for Cummins’ participation in the Second Test.
There will be a circus following him around for the next month, but Monday’s news at least dispels the notion that he’s been out for the entire series.
Earlier this month, Cummins told this masthead that it was really enjoying the outage.
“I probably can’t say but it was nice not to bowl for a while,” Cummins told this imprint. “I’m looking forward to getting back in the net.”
The understatement of the day came when McDonald’s said at the press conference that Scott Boland would be a “potential” replacement.
With 49 wickets from nine home tests at an average of 12.63, Australia have rarely had such ready change.
“This is not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said.
Unless Boland, Hazlewood or Starc are injured. Then things would get very interesting.
News, results and expert analysis from the sports weekend delivered every Monday. Sign up for our sports newsletter.
