Pat Cummins set to play Ashes 2025-26 opener? Australia captain resumes bowling
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The Australian skipper has been ruled out with an injury for a long time, and as per his claims, he could only make a possible return after having bowled for nearly four to six weeks in the nets. Pat Cummins has tentatively taken up bowling with a short run-up.
The Ashes is the next set target for Team Australia after they end the 5-match T20I series against India. The Indian T20I series has begun in Canberra, with rain playing the spoilsport again. Australia, who are at the top of the ICC World Test Championship table, are expected to continue their good run in the home Ashes.
However, the preparations have faced a major setback with their skipper Pat Cummins ruled out of the first game. His earliest return to the field is expected to be in the second game at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Pat Cummins returns to bowling amid race for Ashes return
Pat Cummins has been ruled out of competitive cricket for nearly 4 months now. He played last in Australia's tour to the West Indies in July and then faced a soreness in his back, which was later diagnosed as a lumbar stress injury.
After the injury, his comeback plans ahead of the India tour faced a massive blow. As per the latest reports, Pat Cummins has made a tentative return to the field and was spotted bowling in the nets in Sydney.
However, what seemed strange was Cummins's short run-up during the net session. He bowled off a five-step run-up, which implied that he is not ready for a comeback yet, but has taken such steps to accelerate his comeback.
While Cummins attended his first net session in months at the New South Wales headquarters, he was closely observed by physio Patrick Farhart and the strength and conditioning coach of New South Wales, Dean McNamara, as per AAP.
Andrew McDonald expects Pat Cummins' return for the Second Test
Earlier, Cummins had reported that he would not back a comeback to international cricket before a practice session of 4-6 weeks, which was also later confirmed by Andrew McDonald, the Australian head coach.
"We flagged this a week or so ago, that it would take sort of four-plus weeks to get him up and running," McDonald told reporters on Monday. "We've run out of time [for the first Test], unfortunately, but we're really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match."
"It's never going to be a clear time frame," said the Australian coach on Cummins' return
McDonald also said further that nothing can be said about a specific time frame for Cummins' return, since the type of injury that he has faced is not a blow, but rather due to continuous stress due to workload. As a result of this, Cummins was not even forced to reduce his timeline for a comeback ahead of the white-ball series against India.
"The next question is, what's the time frame, what does it look like for the second Test? [I am] not really going to be able to answer that, other than to say that he'll be back bowling this week, and that's a huge step," confirmed McDonald.
"With the nature of this injury, it's never going to be a clear time frame ... I would never put the medical team under that sort of duress either," he added.
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India National Cricket Team Australia National Cricket Team India vs Australia Australia vs India Pat Cummins Andrew Mcdonald The Ashes
