Pat Cummins makes a mockery of England think tank right before Ashes

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald provided an update amid uncertainty over Pat Cummins’ availability for the 2025-26 Ashes series starting on November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth. McDonald is optimistic that Cummins can feature in the first Test of the upcoming five-match series against England.

Cummins continues to recover from a back injury and has not bowled since Australia’s last Test against the West Indies in July. Cricket Australia has not yet made any decision regarding his return to bowling or his availability. With just over six weeks remaining, Cummins’ chances of featuring in the first Test are slim.

Myself and Pat Cummins Have Spoken About That - Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald expressed confidence that Pat Cummins can return to the team for the Ashes. However, McDonald warned against rushing him back due to risks such as lack of skill readiness and the possibility of soft tissue injuries. He emphasized that the team will carefully consider all factors.

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“Myself and Patty have spoken about that type of timeframe," McDonald was quoted as saying by ICC.

“Or else you start to bring in other risk factors. A: You’re not skill-ready, or B: Soft tissue injuries then become a real risk."

“And if you were to do a soft tissue injury early in a series like the Ashes, then it’s a long way back from where he’s been. So we’ll be mindful of all those risk factors."

Some Positive Signs is Speaking to Pat Cummins - Andrew McDonald

The Australia head coach said that there is gradual progress in Pat Cummins’ recovery, with positive signs from recent training sessions. McDonald said that Cummins was uncertain about his chances for the Perth Test a couple of weeks ago but has become more positive after recent developments.

"It's a big couple of weeks, we've added some variables into his training in the last couple of weeks and had a positive result there," McDonald said.

"There's some positive signs speaking to Patty over the last few days. He's a lot more optimistic. Those who have been through this type of injury (say) these things ebb and flow."

"A couple of weeks ago, did he think he was a chance (to play in Perth)? Potentially not, he was a little bit sore. Then you flip it forward two weeks and there's a lot more positivity. We've still got a little bit to go."

We're Starting to Get Tight in Terms of Times - Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald stated that getting Pat Cummins fit for the first Ashes Test is tight. He mentioned that Cummins can perform even with shortened preparation. McDonald added that the team will have a better understanding of Cummins’ fitness and readiness by this time next week.

"One of the benefits with Patty is that he has had the ability to prepare for Test matches off shortened preparations. So if it was to be shrunken down, we'd be very confident that he would still be able to perform in the first Test.

"But the reality is, we're starting to get tight in terms of the times. We're still optimistic, hopeful, but this time next week, I think we'll be in a position to get better gauge on where he's at."

There is an eight-day break after each of the first two Tests of the series, allowing Australia to manage their fast-bowling resources. If Pat Cummins requires extra recovery time, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland might be able to bowl through the Adelaide Test without needing rest.

However, there are only four-day intervals between the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests, as well as between the Melbourne and Sydney matches.

Also read: Pat Cummins advised to skip Ashes 2025-26 against England; Replacement named