If you wanted proof injured Australia captain Pat Cummins is on track for a return for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, you only had to witness the scenes at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday morning.
Cummins, who will miss the opening Test in Perth from November 21, was showing no signs of discomfort in his back as he steamed in and bowled a decent spell at NSW training.
Pat Cummins trains with the Blues on Saturday.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
Stand-in Australian skipper Steve Smith at one stage walked over, tossed Cummins a pink ball – the colour of choice for the day-night Test that will be played in Brisbane – before he broke into laughter.
England can only hope they win in WA before returning to the east coast, knowing what awaits them.
As Cummins looked the goods, his fellow members of Australia’s “Dad’s Army” bowling attack, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, looked every bit of their respective 34, 37 and 35 years as they took a little longer than their NSW teammates to stretch before training.
Veterans (back-front) Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc warm up at NSW Sheffield Shield training at the SCG.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers
English media have had a field day at the expense of the ageing Australian team that was picked on Wednesday, with only one member of the 15-man squad aged under 30.
Hazlewood, Lyon and Starc, who have collected 1259 Test wickets between them, will tune up for the Ashes with a Sheffield Shield game for the Blues, which starts on Monday against Victoria – and their 36-year-old quick Scott Boland.
When asked how he felt about the attack being dubbed “old”, Hazlewood preferred to use the word “experienced”.
“I feel in the best shape I’ve been in a long time,” Hazlewood said.