Australia captain Pat Cummins provides huge update on fitness ahead of Ashes series

Australia captain Pat Cummins has provided a huge update on his fitness ahead of the opening Ashes Test against England next month. The 32-year-old fast bowler is recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back and has not played any competitive cricket since July this year.

Pat Cummins’ first statement since injury was announced

Cummins’ availability for the first Test of the series has become a big talking point in Australia and England. The skipper, who has recently resumed light running sessions, has revealed that it is “less likely than likely” he will be fit in time for the opening game. He plans to start bowling drills next week as part of his gradual recovery.

“You’d want at least probably a month in the nets. If you play a Test match, you want to make sure you’re right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don’t have to really think about it. So four weeks is pretty tight, but I think somewhere around that mark,” Cummins told reporters at the sidelines of an event in Sydney.

“I’m running today and running kind of every second day, and each run is a little bit longer. (Then I) get into bowling prep next week. (It’s) probably a couple of weeks away before I’m actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on turf,” he added.

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The Australian skipper said he is optimistic but also realistic at the same time about the time required to build full fitness. “With these things, it’s pretty hard to go from not bowling or doing anything at all to suddenly playing five Tests. So first steps are trying to give (me) a shot at being right, and then we’ll work it out (how much he plays),” he added.

If Cummins fails to recover in time, Steve Smith is expected to lead the side against Ben Stokes’ England. Scott Boland will most likely step into the bowling attack to replace Cummins and play alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

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Australia will be eager to have their captain fit for the start of the iconic series, but as Cummins himself admitted, he might not regain full fitness for the opening Test. The first Ashes match is scheduled to take place from November 21 to 25 at Perth Stadium.