SYDNEY — Injured Australian captain Pat Cummins has admitted he is “probably less likely than likely” to be fit for the first Ashes Test against England starting November 21 in Perth, as he continues his recovery from a lower back injury sustained in July against the West Indies.
Cummins said he was still about two weeks away from bowling again and would need at least a month of preparation to regain full fitness for the longer format. “If you’re going to play a Test match you want to make sure you’re right to bowl 20 overs a day and you don’t have to really think about it,” Cummins said.
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The fast bowler is currently running every second day and plans to resume bowling on turf soon. Coach Andrew McDonald said the management would decide later whether to risk Cummins even if he is “a little bit underdone.”
Australia last retained the Ashes in 2023 after a 2-2 draw in England, and previously won the 2021–22 home series 4-0, when Cummins topped the wicket charts with 21 wickets at an average of 18.