Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has not given up hope that captain Pat Cummins will be available for the start of a highly anticipated Ashes series next month.
Cummins returned to running this week as he recovers from lumbar bone stress in his lower back that has sidelined the talismanic fast bowler since Australia’s last Test in the West Indies in July.
Reports in Australia this week claimed that Cummins will miss the match against England, which starts in Perth on November 21, with his participation in the entire series in doubt.
But McDonald took a more optimistic stance even as he accepts Cummins is running out of time to prove his fitness for the series opener, with a decision likely to be made next week.
‘Did he think he had a chance (to play in Perth) a few weeks ago? Possibly not, he was in a little bit of pain,” McDonald told reporters.
‘Then you turn it forward two weeks and there is much more positivity. We still have a little way to go.
“(Cummins) has had the opportunity to prepare for Test matches with abbreviated preparations. So if it was cut back, we would be confident he could still perform in the first Test.
“But the reality is that we’re starting to run out of time. “We’re still optimistic and hopeful, but I think this time next week we’ll be in a position to get a better idea of where he stands.”
McDonald also encouraged Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped after Australia’s final World Test Championship loss to South Africa in June and missed the following month’s tour to the Caribbean.
Labuschagne averaged 59.05 in his first 32 Tests, with 10 hundreds, but that number dropped to 31, with one century, from his last 26 matches since early 2023, leading to his axing.
The England Ashes team
Ben Stokes (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (vice-captain), Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
He has made three centuries in four Sheffield Shield matches to boost his chances of a recall, and with Cameron Green at number three, Labuschagne’s best route appears to be back into the side alongside Usman Khawaja at the top of the table.
“We certainly see Marnus as an opening option,” McDonald added. “He has an excellent record at three for Australia. He is doing the right things at the moment with three domestic hundreds.
‘It’s not necessarily the output we’re looking for. Sometimes it’s the way he goes about it, subtle changes he’s made to his game.
“To see this implemented first in the first round of Shield, that’s a big credit to Marnus for all the work he’s done. Maybe he’s nice and fresh at the moment and making good decisions in his game.’
MORE: Australia have suffered a massive injury ahead of the Ashes series against England
MORE: Piers Morgan apologizes for ‘over the top’ comments about England legend
MORE: England cricket legend says Ryder Cup abuse is insignificant compared to his ‘dark experiences’
#Australia #provide #Pat #Cummins #injury #update #ahead #Ashes