SYDNEY: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has admitted that Pat Cummins is running out of time to be fit for the first Ashes Test, which begins on November 21 in Perth, due to an ongoing back stress injury.
Speaking on Friday, McDonald said that although Cummins had not yet been officially ruled out, the clock was ticking on his recovery, with the paceman yet to resume bowling.
“The reality is, we’re starting to get tight in terms of the times,” McDonald said. “We’re still optimistic, hopeful, but this time next week we’ll be in a better position to gauge where he’s at.”
The 32-year-old Australian captain, who has played every Ashes Test since his debut in the 2017-18 series, has been sidelined during rehabilitation. McDonald acknowledged that back stress injuries involve “ebb and flow” in recovery, but said Cummins was feeling more positive this week.
McDonald noted that Cummins has a track record of performing well even with shortened preparations, giving some hope that a late return could still see him feature in the series opener.
However, he added that Cummins likely needs at least four weeks of bowling before the Perth Test to be considered match-ready and to avoid further injury risks.
“Myself and Patty have spoken about that type of timeframe,” McDonald said. “If you don’t meet that, you risk not being skill-ready, and soft tissue injuries become a real concern. If you pick one of those up early in the Ashes, it’s a long road back.”
Cummins’ absence would force a major shift for Australia, given his consistent presence and leadership since 2017. Without him, Steve Smith is expected to take over captaincy duties, while Scott Boland would likely be brought into the pace attack.
The Ashes series will continue after Perth with Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and will conclude in Sydney in early January. Australia have held the Ashes since reclaiming the urn in 2017 and have not lost a series with Cummins in the side.
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