Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, expressed concerns about Pat Cummins’ injury status leading up to the upcoming Ashes series. Cummins, who has been sidelined with a lower-back stress injury since the Test series against the West Indies in July, is racing against time to recover fully for the crucial five-match Test series on home turf.
After recent medical scans showed positive signs of recovery, Cummins has started running again. McDonald emphasized the importance of Cummins resuming bowling at least four and a half weeks before the Ashes to ensure he is match fit. He highlighted the risk of a potential setback if the injury resurfaces during the series, which could prolong Cummins’ recovery process. Therefore, Australia is taking a cautious approach to manage Cummins’ workload and minimize the risk of further injury.
McDonald stated, “My view would be four, four-and-a-half weeks. Myself and Patty have spoken about that type of timeframe. Or else you start to bring in other risk factors – a) you’re not skill ready, b) soft tissue injuries then become a real risk.” He emphasized the importance of avoiding soft tissue injuries early in a high-stakes series like the Ashes.
If Cummins fails to regain full fitness in time, it is anticipated that Steve Smith will assume the captaincy role. Additionally, Scott Boland is likely to secure a spot in the playing XI, given his position behind Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s fast-bowling hierarchy.
The first Ashes Test is scheduled to commence on Friday, November 21, at Perth Stadium, followed by matches at the Gabba, Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, and Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia currently leads the World Test Championship 2025–27 standings following their 3-0 series victory over the West Indies.