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Pat Cummins, the Australian Test captain, gave a big update on his fitness for the first Ashes Test against England starting next month and it isn’t a good one for his team and their fans. According to the latest statement from the 32-year-old, it is probably less likely that he will be fit to play for Australia in the Ashes 2025-26 series opener at the Optus Stadium in Perth, slated to begin on November 21.
Notably, Pat Cummins has been facing a stress issue in the back after playing his last competitive match in July against West Indies, the third Test of the three-match series in the Caribbean. It is understood that the Australian fast bowler has started running as part of his injury rehabilitation, but he is yet to bowl in the nets, which is critical for him to have any chance of featuring at some stage in the Ashes series later this year.
I wouldn't put a percentage on it, but I'd say probably less likely than likely: Pat Cummins on getting fit for 1st Ashes Test
The statement from Pat Cummins on his fitness read ahead of the highly anticipated five-match Test series against England down under, as per BBC Sport, “I wouldn't put a percentage on it, but I'd say probably less likely than likely, but I've still got a bit of time. We get into bowling preparation I think next week, so probably a couple of weeks away before actually putting on the spikes and bowling out on turf. But it's been a good couple of weeks, each session feels better and better.”
Pat Cummins also agreed with Australian head coach Andrew McDonald’s statement from two days ago about how he needs a minimum of four weeks of bowling preparation to take any part in the Ashes series. He remarked, “You'd want at least probably a month in the nets. If you play a Test match, you want to make sure you're right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don't have to really think about it. So four weeks is pretty tight. But I think somewhere around that mark.”
If Pat Cummins misses out on any of the Tests against England later this year, former captain Steve Smith is expected to lead Australia while Scott Boland is all but certain to replace him in the bowling attack.
