Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has spoken publicly for the first time about his fitness concerns ahead of the Ashes 2025 opener in Perth. Battling a lumbar bone stress injury, Cummins acknowledged that it’s "less likely" he will be fit in time — putting his participation in the first Test in serious doubt.
Cummins Gives Update on Recovery
At the Kayo Sports “Summer of Cricket” launch in Sydney, Cummins explained where he stands in his rehab and how close (or far) he is from bowling again.
“I’d say probably less likely than likely. But we've still got a bit of time. I'm running today and running kind of every second day, and each run is a little bit longer, and then we get into bowling prep next week.”
“So I'm probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on the turf. But it's been a good couple of weeks. Each session feels better and better.”
Cummins’ comments suggest that while he’s making progress, the timeline for safe return is tight, especially for a demanding series like the Ashes.
Australia’s Coach & Cummins’ Frustration
Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, confirmed the final call on Cummins’ availability for the first Test would come on October 17. He also expressed confidence that Cummins could still feature in later matches even if he misses the opener. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Cummins admitted to feeling a tinge of frustration at the timing of the injury:
“Some days I'm kind of annoyed because it's the Ashes, and it's a big summer and then other days I'm kind of realistic. I've had the last seven or eight years of almost uninterrupted home summers, so I felt like I've had a really good run as a fast bowler.”
He also reassured fans that the injury is not expected to have long-term consequences, citing his past durability and experience managing his body.
“It's a back injury that I haven't had for about seven or eight years, and I've played a lot of cricket between that ... when I come back, I shouldn't have to worry about it all.”
What This Means for the Ashes Opener
If Cummins is unavailable, Australia will need to reshuffle both their bowling attack and leadership responsibilities. He remains one of their top strike bowlers and captain. In his absence, experience and depth in the squad will be tested.
Announced Ashes Squads
England Squad 2025/26
England has already named a 16-player squad for the Ashes tour. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Ben Stokes (captain)
- Harry Brook (vice-captain)
- Jofra Archer
- Gus Atkinson
- Shoaib Bashir
- Jacob Bethell
- Brydon Carse
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Ollie Pope
- Matthew Potts
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Josh Tongue
- Mark Wood
Australia’s Likely Squad / Projections
Australia has not formally announced their final squad publicly yet. However, projections and reports suggest a core group of Test regulars likely to be included. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Usman Khawaja
- Sam Konstas
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith
- Travis Head
- Beau Webster
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Pat Cummins (captain, if fit)
- Other pace options: Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc (if available) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Conclusion
Pat Cummins’ cautious optimism reveals the stakes ahead for Australia going into the Ashes opener. If he is forced to sit out, it will test Australia’s bench strength and leadership reserve. But Cummins remains hopeful, asserting that every session has improved and that he aims to return stronger than ever.
Also Read: Kane Williamson to Miss England T20Is, Eyes ODI Comeback, NZ Squad Update
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