Still hopeful to be able to play Ashes: Uncertainty clouds over Pat Cummins return after lumbar bone stress

The Australian cricketing calendar is all set to kickstart from October 1 with the team from Down Under touring their Trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand for a three-match T20I series. As the two Trans-Tasman nations eye on the T20I series as a preparation for the T20 World Cup, the Aussies will be without a few of their key players in Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Josh Inglis.

Cummins, the red-ball captain of the side sits out with a lumbar bone stress, which he suffered off late. This comes at a time where Australia is set to host England in a highly-anticipated Ashes series later this year and will also miss the white-ball series against India. While he fights against time to be fit for the Ashes series, the Aussie all-rounder recently shared an update

on his return.

Still hopeful to be able to part of Ashes: Pat Cummins

The 32-year-old who hasn’t bowled since the Test tour of West Indies in June-July, recently shared an update on his return. Speaking to the reporters, Cummins said, "There are no hard and fast plans yet.” “I'm still doing a bit of gym and keeping things kicking over, but with this kind of injury, it's rest and then we'll build back and kind of work back from the Ashes," he added.

While he did not give a firm date of his return, he continues to “wait and see” as he said, "Still really hopeful to be able to be part of the Ashes. But it is a little bit of a wait and see." Cummins also told the reporters that he aimed to play in all five Tests, but conceded a decision would have to be made closer to the time. "It's honestly too far out to say. But the aim at the moment is to try and be ready for all of it," he said.

Speaking of the Ashes series, the first Test is scheduled to be played from November 21 in Perth. The two teams will then lock horns in the second Test from December 4 to 8 at The Gabba in Brisbane, followed by a game each in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney until January 8, 2026.