Pat Cummins's injury recovery continues ahead of Ashes, Mitchell Starc confident he can perform

Mitchell Starc has backed Pat Cummins to be able to perform off a limited preparation, with Australia's Test captain still unable to bowl ahead of the Ashes.

Cummins is looking likely to miss the first Test against England in Perth, starting on November 21, after scans last week reportedly showed a hot spot in his back had still not entirely cleared.

Serious questions remain over Cummins's involvement in the series at all, with the quick having previously said he would want to be bowling at least a month before his return.

But Starc, speaking on Thursday to announce he would play BBL matches for the Sydney Sixers after the Test summer, insisted the leader of the pace cartel had remained in "good spirits" and "ultra positive".

Starc said he did not know the latest on Cummins's fitness but was confident the captain would not need a long lead-in once cleared.

"I found one thing playing with Pat and being close with Pat, he doesn't need much," Starc said.

"Whether it's he bowls three warm-up balls and first over the game he's on the money.

"He just knows when to switch on or how to switch on really quickly.

"Whatever it looks like for him in his prep, it's going to be certainly different to what mine feels and looks like. That comes with experience and age."

Cummins's injury is likely to leave Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland as the fast-bowling trio for the first Test at Optus Stadium.

Starc and Hazlewood have indicated they intend on playing all five Tests, with gaps of at least eight days between the first three matches helping their cause.

Beyond the trio, Michael Neser is the only other fit paceman with Test experience with Jhye Richardson yet to return from a shoulder injury.

Sean Abbott has been on the fringes for several years, while Brendan Doggett and Fergus O'Neill have also made strong cases.

"It's times like these you might unearth someone," Starc said.

"I certainly think there's enough experience around Australian cricket.

"There's obviously guys at different levels, different age groups, guys that have been in and around the squad a fair bit.

"You mention Ness, Sean Abbott's been around the squad for a while … I know there's been a little bit of noise around Jhye Richardson coming back."

Starc himself will play one Sheffield Shield match before the first Test, with he and Hazlewood to bowl for NSW against Victoria at the SCG next month.

The pair will also play for Australia in the three ODIs against India before that, while Hazlewood is also in the squad for the first two T20s.

Starc said that one Shield game was ideal preparation, given he would not have been able to have a proper rest from bowling if he played in the Blues' season opener against Western Australia last weekend.

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