Cummins targets Ashes return as recovery from back injury continues

Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has outlined a tentative timeline for his return to bowling as he works his way back from a back injury ahead of the gruelling five-Test Ashes series, starting November 21.

Cummins has been sidelined with back soreness since Australia’s tour of the Caribbean in July, with scans later revealing a lumbar bone stress. Medical advice prescribed rest, ruling out running and bowling for the immediate future.

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The skipper remains focused on proving his fitness in time for the first Ashes Test in Perth on November 21 and hopes to resume bowling four to six weeks before the series begins.

“I’d imagine (I’d want to be bowling) at least a month out, maybe six weeks,” Cummins said at a Cricket Australia sponsorship event on Wednesday. “But I’ve not thought that deeply about it yet. It’s still a bit of a wait-and-see. We’ve got plenty of time, so we’ll map a way back when we get closer. At the moment, for the next few weeks, it’s pretty light. Not much running and zero bowling.”

If Cummins is unavailable for the opener, Scott Boland appears the frontrunner to step in, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon all expected to feature.

The Australian skipper expressed confidence in the depth of the pace attack, highlighting the options waiting for an opportunity.

“We feel really well placed. A lot of planning goes in. It’s not just a month before, it’s 12 months out. Someone like Jhye Richardson, hopefully, will be available for some of the summer. There’s (Michael) Neser, Brendan Doggett was part of the squad last year,” he said.

“Sean Abbott. So I’m really confident in our depth. Obviously, there is a bit of (Sheffield) Shield cricket and white-ball cricket before that to make sure everyone is up and raring to go,” he added.

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