Andrew McDonald hopeful the fast-bowling captain will be back for the second Test in Brisbane

McDonald provides update on Cummins, Green fitness

Steve Smith will captain Australia in the first Ashes Test after Pat Cummins was formally ruled out of the series opener against England in Perth.

Less than a month out from the first Test, Cummins has still not yet resumed bowling as he recovers from a back stress injury. The paceman had indicated he would like to have been back with ball in hand at least four weeks out from his return.

Andrew McDonald confirmed today that Cummins will be back bowling this week, with Australia now hopeful the 32-year-old will be right for the second Test in Brisbane under lights, beginning December 4, which is five-and-a-half weeks away.

“We’ve grappled with it for a little while,” McDonald told reporters in Canberra. “The nature of the injury is that you never know and you’re sort of taking it a day by day.

“We’ve run out of time. We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take four-plus weeks to get him up and running. We’ve run out of time unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.

“He’ll be back bowling this week, and that’s a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in. We’re on the journey to that that second Test match, and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome.”

There was some more positive news on Cameron Green, who has resumed bowling since suffering “side awareness” that ruled out of the recent ODI series against India.

He will play for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield this week but a call on whether he will cleared to bowl is yet to be made.

Cummins meanwhile will travel to the WA capital with the Test squad next month, with McDonald expecting the right-armer to have progressed significantly by then.

‘We can score anything’: Australia’s gung-ho Powerplay approach

“Patty will be around the group as well, he’ll come to Perth … and it’ll almost be one of those things where you’ll see him and it’ll almost be a question of, ‘Why isn’t he playing in Perth?’ That’s where we think he’ll be placed by that that stage,” said the coach.

McDonald admitted Cummins’ absence will be a blow for the home side given his leadership as well as being their leading fast bowler.

There is a silver lining of a Cummins return from Test two or three onwards given the breaks between Tests get much shorter during the series’ back-end.

It appeared unlikely Australia would have been able to carry an unchanged bowling attack through the hectic three-week stretch of the Adelaide-Melbourne-Sydney run of Tests anyway.

In the meantime, the Aussies are about as well covered as they can be to make up for the absence of the all-time great.

Steve Smith, Cummins’ captaincy predecessor, is experienced in the role and has filled in for him as skipper six times since the quick took over the job. Smith also lifts with the bat when he is captain, averaging nearly 70 when in the role.

Zampa: ‘Feels like a new era’ as Aussies celebrate series win

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have such an experienced captain,” said McDonald.

“They’re a good working sort of couple, so to speak. They work well together and there’ll be a nice handover.”

Behind the scenes of Rohit, Virat’s Aussie farewell

Scott Boland, who averages 12.63 with the ball at home, meanwhile shapes as the likely replacement in the bowling attack for Perth.

“Losing your captain’s not ideal, but when you talk about Scott Boland being the potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in,” said McDonald.

“Ideally, we want the captain available for stability and decision making. But Steve Smith will slide into that position.

“You get excited about when (Cummins) does come back, what an injection that will be to the group – a fully-fit Pat Cummins returning at some stage during the Ashes, and that’s what we’re hopeful for.”

Smith will make his Sheffield Shield return for New South Wales from tomorrow against Queensland at the Gabba after returning from New York, but Boland has been rested from Victoria’s clash with Tasmania at the Junction Oval.

2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes

First Test: November 21-25, Perth Stadium, 1.30pm AEDT

Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N), 3.30pm AEDT

Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 11am AEDT

Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am AEDT

Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10.30am AEDT