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Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has not ruled himself out of the first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 to be played at Perth Stadium. Cummins who has missed months of cricketing action due to stress in his lower back is doubtful about his chances of bowling in the opening Ashes Test.
"I'd say probably less likely than likely," Cummins said and Fox Cricket season launch event in Sydney. "But we've still got a bit of time.
"I'm running today and running kind of every second day, and each runs a little bit longer, and then we get into bowling prep next week. So I'm probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on the turf. But it's been a good couple of weeks. Each session feels better and better."
How much time Cummins needs to get ready for Ashes?
Cummins was asked what would be the ideal time he needed to prepare for an Ashes Test.
“You'd want probably at least a month in the nets," Cummins said. "If you are to play in a Test match, you want to make sure you are right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don't have to think about it. Four weeks is pretty tight, but I think somewhere around that mark."
How Cummins is training to be back in action?
Cummins opened up about his injury. He is focusing on increasing his workload gradually. Currently, he is working on training specific muscles before he runs in full steam in the nets.
"It's kind of a little bit stiff, just probably a little bit from the injury but then also because it hasn't been used for a while," Cummins said. "Each session you do a little bit of run and make sure you pull up alright. So I'm actually feeling really good at the moment. A few of the symptoms hung around for a little bit longer than I would have liked but they're all gone now. I'm just trying to kind of increase the workload and make sure body's responding.
"Some of the gym work becomes a bit more bowling prep work. So you do a lot more kind of getting your muscles ready, side holds to try to simulate that. Maybe some med ball work, but trying to kind of transition before you actually go into the nets and start bowling."
Cummins responds to head coach’s statement
Cummins still hasn’t ruled out chances of him leading Australia in the Perth Test. He is focusing on the present while head coach Andrew McDonald said that a call on his availability will be taken later this week.
"I think it's a bit early to know," Cummins said. "With these things it's pretty hard to go from not bowling or anything at all to suddenly playing five Tests. First steps are trying to kind of give us a shot at being right, and then we'll work it out a bit closer to time."
Cummins admitted that at times he is annoyed because of the importance an Ashes series holds in a player’s life. He wanted to be a part of the ODI series against Australia but considers his injury part and parcel of the game.
"Some days I'm kind of annoyed because it's the Ashes, and it's a big summer and then other days I'm kind of realistic," Cummins said. "I've had the last seven or eight years of almost uninterrupted home summers, so I felt like I've had a really good run as a fast bowler. Someone like Josh [Hazlewood], he's been a little bit more unlucky, so maybe it's my turn. But it's such a big summer ahead. Obviously, you want to be in a mix, even with the India One-Day series and T20 series, I wish I was part of that. But it's not to be. It's part of cricket. You're going to get injuries."
Who will lead Australia in Ashes if Cummins gets ruled out?
In Cummins’ absence, Steve Smith will take over captaincy duties. He captained Australia on the Sri Lanka tour earlier this year as well.
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