Pat Cummins hopes to resume bowling at least a month before the start of the Ashes on November 21 but admits there is still no fixed recovery timeline from his lumbar bone stress. The Australian captain, 32, has been dealing with back trouble since the Test series win in the Caribbean two months ago and has already been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball assignments against New Zealand and India.
Even in his downtime, Cummins remains intent on leading Australia into the marquee Ashes opener in Perth, even if it means going in without any Sheffield Shield match practice.
"I'd imagine (I'd want to be bowling) at minimum a month out, maybe six weeks," Cummins said at a sponsor event on Wednesday (September 10). "But I've not thought that deeply about it yet. It's still a bit of a wait and see. We've got plenty of time, so we'll map a way back when we get closer. At the moment for the next few weeks it's pretty light. Not much running and zero bowling."
Cummins' injury has renewed focus on Australia's fast-bowling depth. Josh Hazlewood has had his share of injury setbacks, while Scott Boland has filled in admirably. But the backup options are thinning: Lance Morris has undergone back surgery, youngsters Callum Vidler and Mahli Beardman are also sidelined, and Jhye Richardson's Ashes participation is uncertain following a shoulder dislocation.
Cummins, however, played down any alarm. "We feel really well placed. A lot of planning goes in. It's not just a month before, it's 12 months out," he said. "Someone like Jhye Richardson hopefully will be available for some of the summer.
"There's (Michael) Neser, Brendan Doggett was part of squads last year, Sean Abbott. So I'm really confident in our depth. Obviously there is a bit of Shield cricket and white-ball cricket before that to make sure everyone is up and raring to go."
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