Cummins Eyes Comeback in Time for Ashes Showdown

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ASHES TARGET

Pat Cummins is planning to return to bowling at least a month prior to the Ashes commencing on November 21. However, he acknowledges that there is still no set timeline for his recovery from lumbar bone stress. The 32-year-old Australian captain has been struggling with back issues since their Test series victory in the Caribbean a couple of months ago and will miss the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India.

Despite his current downtime, Cummins is determined to lead Australia in the Ashes opener in Perth, even if it means foregoing any Sheffield Shield match practice.

“I’d imagine wanting to be bowling at a minimum a month out, possibly six weeks,” Cummins mentioned during a sponsor event on September 10. “But I haven’t delved deeply into it yet. It’s still somewhat of a waiting game. We have plenty of time, so we’ll chart a recovery plan as we approach that time. For now, the upcoming weeks involve minimal activity, with not much running and no bowling,” he added.

Cummins’ injury has brought attention back to Australia’s fast-bowling depth. While Josh Hazlewood has faced his own injury challenges, Scott Boland has stepped up commendably. However, backup options are becoming scarce with Lance Morris undergoing back surgery, and young talents like Callum Vidler and Mahli Beardman sidelined. There’s also uncertainty around Jhye Richardson’s participation in the Ashes due to a shoulder dislocation.

Despite these challenges, Cummins remains optimistic. “We feel well-prepared. A lot of planning goes into this long-term. It’s not just a month before, it’s a year ahead,” he said. “We hope Jhye Richardson will be available for some of the summer games.”

He also mentioned other backup options, saying, “There’s Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, who was part of squads last year, as well as Sean Abbott. I’m confident in our depth. There’s a bit of Shield and white-ball cricket before the Ashes to ensure everyone is ready and eager to go.”

© Cricbuzz

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