Australia skipper Pat Cummins has admitted that it is highly unlikely that he will feature in the first Ashes Test from November 21 in Perth, but with still over a month left, nothing can be assured. He has started running for the first time after his back injury.
Cummins’ back has been a major talking point in Australia ever since it was revealed last month that he is dealing with a lumbar bone stress problem. The pacer has not sent down a single ball since Australia’s last Test series in the Caribbean three months ago.
Speaking at Fox Cricket’s season launch event in Sydney on Monday, Cummins struck a realistic tone about his chances of featuring in the first Test against England.
“I would say probably less likely than likely. But we still have
a bit of time. I am running today and running kind of every second day and each run is a little bit longer and then we get into bowling prep next week,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“So I am probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on the turf. But it has been a good couple of weeks. Each session feels better and better,” Cummins added.
The Australian skipper was asked how long he would need to prepare his body to play in a Test.
“You would probably want at least a month in the nets. If you are to play in a Test, you want to make sure you are right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don’t have to think about it,” Cummins said.
The Australian skipper said that his back was feeling better, having taken a long time to settle after the lumbar bone stress was diagnosed.
“Some days I am kind of annoyed because it is the Ashes and it is a big summer and then other days I am kind of realistic. I have had the last seven or eight years of almost uninterrupted home summers, so I felt like I have had a really good run as a fast bowler,” Cummins said.
