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Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins is targetting the Gabba Test for his return to action in the upcoming Ashes 2025-26. Cummins was ruled out of the opening Test at Perth Stadium, starting November 21. As he continues to work on his fitness and bowls in the nets, the pacer has confirmed that he will travel with the squad to Perth.
"That's the aim and we're building our plan to the second Test," Cummins said at the Seven Network's cricket launch on Thursday. "It's probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you're at.
"The good thing is that I'm pulling up well and the body is great.
"We're trying to keep that second Test as a live option. I'll have a really good bowl in Perth, and by then I'll know where I'm at."
Cummins to help Smith in Perth
Cummins has opted not to play a warm-up game in Sheffield Shield to get himself ready for Test action. Instead, he will be sitting with the Australian coaching staff to see the Ashes opener. He feels that he will have a different perspective, sitting in the coach's box and may provide assistance to stand-in skipper Smith if he sees something different.
"Before the 2023 ODI World Cup I flew over to South Africa and watched the last couple of ODIs there," Cummins said. "It was actually a really different view from the coach's box. It's a different perspective.
"So hopefully I gather some information from being in that position through the Test that later on in the series I can use.
"Or maybe Steve Smith needs something and I have seen something differently from up there.
"But being close to the game and the conversations, I think I will need that going into the second or third Test."
Boland gets much-deserved spot
In Cummins’ absence, Scott Boland will have a chance to continue his good form and trouble the England batters. Boland has 20 wickets from five Tests against England at an average of 20.15. This includes six wickets for just seven runs at the MCG, including a hat-trick.
Australia also have the option of getting two all-rounders in the side — Cameron Green and Beau Webster.
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