Pat Cummins is sidelined and Ben Stokes is back in the nets. But it is not all doom and gloom for the Aussies ahead of the Ashes.

On a day Australian great Brett Lee urged Cummins to take caution to ensure he does not return to cricket until fully fit, news that Stokes is back batting suggests the English captain is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a shoulder injury.

Australia’s great rivals also received an additional boost with news English speedster Mark Wood will be back playing within a week.

THE FOLLOW ON: Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports cricket analyst Brett Lee discusses the Ashes, Asia Cup and upcoming white ball series against India. LISTEN.

In an extended chat with Fox Cricket podcast The Follow On, Lee canvassed the big issues ahead of the Ashes including who he would settle on to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja, along with his excitement about the Asia Cup beginning later this week.

He is confident Australia has the depth to cover any concerns surrounding Cummins, who is dealing with a back problem, should the champion take longer than anticipated to recover from the injury.

Lee, who played 76 Tests for Australia, is well aware of the importance of being careful when it comes to back issues, having endured a couple of significant problems late in his teens and also in his mid-20s.

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He expressed surprise the Australian captain was suffering from a stress-related problem given his physical maturity but said the important thing is that Cummins ensures he is completely fit before deciding to feature in the Ashes.

“He’s looking now to focus on the Test matches and there’s nothing wrong with that. There is no point coming back too early and playing the one day matches and then not be ready for the Test matches,” Lee told The Follow On.

“I just really hope Pat Cummins gives himself the amount of time to be 100 per cent raring to go … and if he’s not ready for the first Test, not 100 per cent, leave him until the second Test. If he is not ready for the second Test, leave him to the Third. But if he is ready to go for the first Test, 100 per cent charge in.

“What you don’t want to do is go in 90 per cent for the first Test, get injured, maybe in the first innings or the second innings, you know, and then you’re down a bowler and then you’ve lost the whole Australian summer, lost the captain, lost your strike bowler.

“Time is of essence here. (He has) got to make sure that he gives himself every opportunity. And Pat Cummins is a smart guy. It’s not his first mango season. He’s been around the bush a long time now and he’ll make sure he makes the right call.”

Cummins fully focussed on Ashes return | 01:55

Scott Boland, clearly, shapes as the logical replacement should Cummins or the other champion pace bowlers Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc succumb to fitness issues during the Ashes, as proved the case last summer when he starred in Adelaide and Sydney.

But if there are significant issues, Lee expressed confidence in the talent of domestic stars including Brendan Doggett, who was selected for the Caribbean tour in June only to suffer from a minor hip issues, along with Victorian star Fergus O’Neill and Sean Abbott.

He said it was critical the fringe contenders ensured they showed strong form in the infancy of the Sheffield Shield season in case a vacancy opens.

“Doggett, he was not even on my radar, but he has been a guy who has been around a long time now and has always been thereabouts, while Abbott has been around the squad a lot,” he said.

“Spencer Johnson (who is currently injured) has been mentioned before. Guys like a Nathan Ellis, a Jhye Richardson who has done very well … so pending fitness, Australia have got probably four or five guys that they can lean on.

“Of course Scott Boland is the next cab off the rank. And it’s funny when we, either as a journalist or as a broadcaster, say that he’s the replacement (because) he would be any team across the world, in any format, to be truthful, and would be in the starting XI. But unfortunately, a bit like (Stuart) McGill in the Warne era, he was probably born in the wrong era.

“You can’t go away from Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins, as they are first picked. But Boland will definitely be the next cab off the rank. And then if one of the other bowlers go down, then those names that I mentioned will have to ensure firstly, that they’re fully fit, and secondly, that they’re raring to go.”

Lee urged those outside the current Australian squad to further their skillset, saying that if fringe contenders could improve either their fielding or batting, it could prove critical should a vacancy open during the Ashes or in the summers to come.

“Like I’ve always said, my advice to any young first class cricketer is if you’re out there, work on your skills. Work on making sure that you’re not just a fast bowler,” he said.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Pat Cummins poses during a portrait session at the National Cricket Centre on September 09, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)Source: Getty Images

How much longer does Stokes have left? | 03:11

Former Australian cricketer Ryan Campbell, who is currently coaching English County side Durham, has revealed Stokes is back batting in the nets after succumbing to a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the final Test of the thrilling series against India.

“Over the last week, he has started to hit balls and had a really good session. The batting side of things is going very well but the bowling will take a lot longer. He is being treated very steadily,” Campbell told the BBC.

Wood, who has not played since the Champions Trophy in February, suffered a setback which precluded him from replacing Stokes in the final Test but Campbell said he is hopeful Wood will be able to play next week.

“If that happens, it is not only great for Durham but also for England. He is extremely close to playing,” Campbell said.

LEEDS, ENGLAND – AUGUST 07: Ben Stokes of Northern Superchargers smiles during the warm up prior to the The Hundred match between Northern Superchargers Men and Welsh Fire Men at Headingley on August 07, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images