Former England stars continue to line-up to predict Australian woe this summer after Josh Hazlewood joined Pat Cummins on the sidelines for the first Test in Perth this Friday.
But Cummins appears to be nearing a return after completing a full bowling session at the nets at “full tilt” in an encouraging sign.
Cummins, who will miss at least the first Test with a back injury and doesn’t have a set return date, took part in a one-hour nets session at Optus Stadium on Monday.
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It’s a positive sign the Australian skipper could be back sooner rather than later, with Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and debutant Brendan Doggett set to spearhead the hosts’ fast-bowling attack in Perth with Josh Hazlewood also sidelined.
SEN’s Bharat Sundaresan was encouraged by Cummins’ nets session.
“What will warm the Australian fans’ hearts is that Pat Cummins has just been in the middle of a lengthy spell, and he’s bowling at full tilt,” Sundaresan said on Sportsday on Monday evening.
“He seems to touch wood, be having no real issues. He did talk about how he thinks he might even be in line to come back into the side in Brisbane.
“He got through his spell, and this is Australia’s first net session of the Ashes, so some positive signs for sure.”
Pat Cummins took part in a one-hour nets session (Image: Bharat Sundaresan via X).Source: FOX SPORTS
Michael Vaughan on Monday said that not only will England finally end its drought in Australia by winning a Test this summer, but would clinch a series draw, assuming Ben Stokes doesn’t get injured.
“As long as Stokes stays fit I think this series is going to be 2-2,” he predicted. “England to win in Perth with no Pat or Josh.
“As long as we have no more injuries before the first test that’s my final prediction.”
But former England spinner Monty Panesar went a step further when speaking on SENWA Breakfast.
He noted that Australia has frailties at the top with Usman Khawaja out of form and with no clear-cut Test quality opening partner, while the injuries to Hazlewood and Cummins could prove costly.
“And who knows, it could be just Shoaib Bashir coming into his own there, so I believe it’ll be 3-2 or 3-1, England.”
He added: “I can hear a pin drop when I’m saying this, I feel like you guys just do not want to hear any positive vibes about this English team.
“Look, this Australian team is good, let’s be honest, but with Pat Cummins not there, they might struggle.”
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Chris Rogers backs Victorian stars | 12:48
REVEALED: FIRST LOOK AT PERTH PITCH… AND QUICKS WOULD LOVE THE SIGHT
Four days out from the Ashes opener, the Australians have had an early look at the Optus Stadium wicket – and the quicks should be licking their lips.
The Aussie side arrived in Perth on Sunday and wasted no time checking out the surface they’ll face England on in the series’ first Test on Friday.
Australia will be aiming to put in a better effort at Perth this year than they did against India at Optus Stadium 12 months ago.
The Indians thrashed the home side by 295 runs with Australia bowled out for 104 and 238 in their two innings.
Despite a noticeable green covering, Optus Stadium curator Isaac McDonald says Australian and English players should expect a typical Perth deck
“Something in it for the quicks, something in it for the batters,” McDonald said.
“Aiming for that really good balance between bat and ball but the characteristics of pace and bounce have got to be there.”
Australia will be without two of their best bowlers for the Perth Test with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins injured.
The Optus Stadium pitch four days out from the Ashes opener. Credit: SMHSource: FOX SPORTS
DIZZY’S VERDICT ON LIKELY DEBUTANT
Australian cricket legend Jason Gillespie has declared Brendan Doggett is “ready to go” with the South Australian quick set to earn a baggy green in the first Ashes Test.
Few know Doggett better than the man affectionately known as ‘Dizzy’, with Gillespie having resigned from the SACA head coaching role in March 2024.
Doggett, 31, is also set to join only Gillespie and Scott Boland as the only Indigenous mens players to represent Australia at Test level when he is named as the 472nd Test cricketer for his country.
His debut is set to come after a hamstring injury suffered by Josh Hazlewood, who joins Pat Cummins (back) in the casualty ward.
Speaking on ABC Radio, Gillespie explained he was confident Doggett had all the attributes needed to excel at Test level alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
“He’s one of the quicker bowlers in Australia,” Gillespie said.
“Got a good motor, he’s a greyhound and is as fit as a fiddle.
“He’s ready to go. England will sniff an opportunity (without Cummins and Hazlewood), but I’m confident the Australian seam attack is good enough to get the job done.”
Doggett joined the Redbacks in 2021, having previously played for Queensland where he was spotted as a potential prospect while playing for Toowoomba Souths.
However, it wasn’t until his 20s that he featured in any representative teams, having made his List A debut for Cricket Australia XI in a team that played in the One Day competition.
“His path to a potential Baggy Green is not a common one in the modern game,” Gillespie said.
“It just shows the value of our local competitions, plying away and working on your craft.”
BUILD THE MAN A STATUE | Boland’s 6/7 | 06:31
JOHNSON TEES OFF ON AUSSIE BOWLING ATTACK
Former Test quick Mitchell Johnson believes the “alarm bells are ringing loud and clear” for the Aussies who will be without a pair of pace bowlers for the first Test in Perth.
Both Pat Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (hamstring) are sidelined, with Johnson pointing to their age as a major issue for the Australian outfit.
Alongside Cummins (32) and Hazlewood (34) the remaining members of the bowling attack are Nathan Lyon (37), Mitchell Starc (35) and Scott Boland (36).
Brendan Doggett is also expected to make his Test debut at 31, while Cameron Green is the only player under the age of 30 in the squad.
Johnson was of the belief the duo’s injuries has opened the door for England to reclaim the Ashes abroad.
“Josh Hazlewood going down before the first Ashes Test is exactly the scenario I’ve been flagging for a while,” he wrote for the West Australian.
“When your leaders are all in their mid-to-late 30s and have heavy workloads banked, the odds eventually turn on you.
“While losing captain Pat Cummins to injury was already a blow, one injury to a frontline quick is manageable. Losing two out of the big three starts to rewrite the whole script for the Ashes.
“It narrows Australia’s margin for error, and it forces selectors into decisions they’d hoped they wouldn’t have to make this early in the summer.”
Johnson also called on Australian selectors to make the big calls and hand a pair of Test hopefuls their debuts.
“The loss of Hazlewood even raises the question of how the selectors think about the top order,” he wrote.
“I still believe Jake Weatherald should be given the opportunity to debut and open the batting. He’s earned it. But losing another senior bowler might cause a rethink.
“For me, you go brave. Pick the form opener. Back the next quick who deserves the shot.
“But this is exactly the moment Australia didn’t want, and now we get to see how bold they really are.”
Aussies land in Perth ahead of test | 00:34
PM’S XI ANNOUNCED
Australia has unveiled its team for this month’s Prime Minister’s XI match against an England XI in Canberra, with discarded Test opener Sam Konstas headlining the 13-player squad.
The Prime Minister’s XI will play a two-day, pink-ball contest against the English at Manuka Oval from November 29, helping the tourists prepare for the following week’s day-night Ashes Test at the Gabba.
Konstas, who missed selection for the Ashes, has been named in the squad alongside fellow young guns Oliver Peake, Charlie Anderson and Hugh Weibgen, while former Test quick Peter Siddle has also earned a surprise call-up.
The Prime Minister’s XI will be led by Victorian veteran Peter Handscomb, while South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney has also been named. Former Australian Test wicketkeeper Tim Paine will coach the team.
“The Prime Minister’s XI is a proud tradition in Australian cricket, and I’m thrilled to confirm the squad to face the England XI later this month,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who helped pick the team, said in a statement.
“This team showcases the depth of talent in our domestic cricket system, and I’m particularly excited to see some of our emerging stars earn this opportunity.
“It’s a fantastic stage for players to test themselves against international opposition and for fans to enjoy top-quality pink-ball cricket in Canberra.
“I am also looking forward to the Ashes commencing in Perth from 21 November, it’s the oldest rivalry in world cricket – Australia and England in an Ashes Series always means something extra.”
Full squad:
Peter Handscomb (VIC/St Kilda CC) (c)
Benji Floros (ACT/QLD/Valley District CC)
Campbell Kellaway (VIC/Melbourne CC)
Campbell Thompson (SA/East Torrens CC)
Charlie Anderson (NSW/Northern District CC)
Doug Warren (VIC/Melbourne University CC)
Hugh Weibgen (QLD/Valley District Cricket Club)
Joel Curtis (WA/Perth CC)
Nathan McSweeney (SA/Glenelg CC)
Oliver Peake (VIC/Geelong CC)
Peter Siddle (Dandenong CC)
Sam Konstas (NSW/Sutherland CC)
Sam Skelly (ACT/QLD/Northern Suburbs CC)