by Booney » Wed Oct 08, 2025 11:19 am
As the clock ticks down to the summer, it becomes increasingly unlikely Pat Cummins will play in the Ashes.
It is now effectively impossible for Cummins to line-up in the first Test in Perth on November 21 and the Australian captain is racing against the clock to be a factor in the Ashes at all.
The latest scan actually showed Cummins’ lower back stress is healing, but the question is whether Australia will be prepared to potentially risk further injury, for the sake of playing one or two Test matches against England.
Cummins has not been ruled out yet and no decisions will be made for at least another couple of weeks, as medicos give the spearhead’s body as much chance to rest and heal as possible.
However, the more time that passes, the more Cummins’ hopes fade because he would need at least four weeks – but most likely a minimum of six weeks to start building up his bowling loads for a return to play at Ashes intensity.
And it is now exactly six weeks until the first ball is bowled at Optus Stadium and Cummins hasn’t started any bowling.
It would be a massive blow to lose Cummins, Australia’s leader and best bowler for the Ashes, but the bigger blow would be jeopardising his long-term fitness and longevity.
Cummins’ lumbar stress is not necessarily a serious injury – and is very common for fast bowlers – and the fact his condition is steadily improving with every scan is encouraging.
But backs and fast bowlers is not something that is usually wise to rush, even when the stakes are as high as they are for the most anticipated clash against England in recent memory.
Cummins told this masthead two weeks ago in an interview promoting Prime Video’s live and exclusive coverage of the Women’s World Cup that he would undergo a number of scans between now and the summer to track his recover.
One of those scans has already taken place, and there will be at least one more before a final decision has to be made on if and when he resumes to bowling.
It also won’t be the only factor and Australian medical staff will also be guided by how Cummins is feeling in himself.
“Probably using one or two, maybe three scans to gauge how the back is tracking. Like a lot of injuries, it’s also non clinical signs in terms of how you’re feeling and symptoms, so that will be pretty important,” Cummins said.
“Like anything there’s always multiple factors. I’ve got a bit of time. Obviously you can’t just go from no bowling to bowling tomorrow so there will be a ramping up period as well where you’re always tracking along with the physios. (Scans) won’t be the sole factor.”
Cummins said he’s been heavily restricted in terms of his physical preparation for the Ashes.
While he’s been able to maintain general gym work and cycling, he hasn’t been able to bowl or run.
“There’s not really much you can do to speed it up unfortunately,” Cummins said for Prime Video.
“Maybe there’s some very marginal science (but) we don’t really want to go near that.
“It really just is rest and trying to avoid anything that’s going to get in the way of healing, knowing we have time to ramp up and get bowling.
“I’m still doing gym work pretty much unrestricted. I’m doing some cycling sessions but the priority at the moment is resting my back and then once we ramp up, we ramp up.”
If you want to go quickly, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.