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 struck a more optimistic tone as he acknowledged Cummins is running out of time to prove his fitness for the series opener, with a decision expected next week.
For exclusive stories and all the detailed cricket news you need, subscribe to The cricket paper website, digital edition or newspaper from just 14p per day.
Positivity
“Did he think he had a chance (of playing in Perth) a few weeks ago? Potentially not, he was a bit sore,” McDonald told reporters.
“Then you turn it forward two weeks and there is much more positivity. We still have a little bit to go.”
“(Cummins) has had the ability to prepare for Test matches with shortened preparations. So if it were shortened, we would be very confident he could still perform in the first Test.
“But the reality is that we are starting to get tight on times. We are still optimistic and hopeful, but next week I think we will be in a position to better assess where he stands.”
(Martin Rickett/PA)
Encouragement
McDonald also backed Marnus Labuschagne, dropping out after Australia’s final World Test Championship defeat to South Africa and abandoning the Caribbean tour that followed.
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.
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 right now he’s nice and fresh and making some good decisions in his game.”
#READ MORE: How much damage would the potential Ashes absence mean to Australia?
#Australias #coach #giving #hope #Pat #Cummins #Ashes #opener