Test captain sets a loose target for his own return and insists Australia has the fast bowling stocks to cover any injuries<\/p>\n
Pat Cummins is adamant there are no depth issues around Australia’s bowling ahead of the Ashes, at a time when England are building back towards full strength.<\/p>\n
The Test skipper insists Australia have enough depth to cover any injuries to their pace cartel this summer as the struck-down quick set a loose target for his own bowling return.<\/p>\n
Cummins has felt a lingering soreness in his back since Australia’s Test series win in the West Indies almost two months ago, with scans since showing lumbar bone stress.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old is desperate to feature in this summer’s Ashes and has vowed to take an aggressive approach to prove his fitness if required.<\/p>\n
A timeline has not yet been set for Cummins’ on-field return and he is prepared to go into the Test summer without playing a Sheffield Shield game if required.<\/p>\n
But the quick said he would likely want to be back bowling at least a month before the first Test against England in Perth on November 21.<\/p>\n
“I’d imagine (I’d want to be bowling) at minimum a month out, maybe six weeks,” Cummins said as Cricket Australia announced Chemist Warehouse as a sponsor.<\/p>\n
Lyon, Perry, Cummins and King at the SCG to announce Chemist Warehouse as a new CA sponsor<\/p>\n
“But I’ve not thought that deeply about it yet.<\/p>\n
“It’s still a bit of a wait and see. We’ve got plenty of time, so we’ll map a way back when we get closer.<\/p>\n
“At the moment for the next few weeks it’s pretty light. Not much running and zero bowling.”<\/p>\n
Cummins’ injury scare has highlighted concerns around Australia’s depth for the summer.<\/p>\n
Scott Boland remains the fourth member of the cartel and ready to step up in case of injury, but below him numbers are dwindling.<\/p>\n
Speedster Lance Morris has been ruled out of the summer<\/a> requiring his own back surgery, while Jhye Richardson’s Ashes availability is questionable on return from a dislocated shoulder.<\/p>\n Rising Queensland quick Callum Vidler has also been sidelined<\/a> long-term with a back injury, while fellow young star Mahli Beardman is also nursing a stress fracture.<\/p>\n “We feel really well placed,” Cummins insisted.\u00a0<\/p>\n “A lot of planning goes in. It’s not just a month before, it’s 12 months out.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Someone like Jhye Richardson hopefully he will be available for some of the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n “There’s (Michael) Neser, Brendan Doggett was part of squads last year, Sean Abbott. So I’m really confident in our depth.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Obviously there is a bit of Shield cricket and white-ball cricket before that to make sure everyone is up and raring to go.”<\/p>\n England are gaining fitness ahead of the Ashes.<\/p>\n Speedster Jofra Archer returned to Test cricket in July and sent down a devastating 4-18 from nine overs against South Africa in an ODI earlier this week.<\/p>\n “(He’s) got quicker. It was box-office bowling,” England coach Brendan McCullum remarked afterwards.\u00a0<\/p>\n “I thought it was brilliant and not just his pace but his skill, his ability to shift it both ways and to test batters with the steep bounce he gets.<\/p>\n “He’s a proper cricketer, hence why we’ve taken our time with him to make sure that we give him every chance to be in the biggest series of all of our lives.\u00a0<\/p>\n “He’s going to be a huge player when we get to Australia, as a number of others are.”<\/p>\n The tourists also expected to have fellow express quick Mark Wood on deck, while Ben Stokes has also resumed training following a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n Chris Woakes, who was man of the series in the 2023 Ashes, has also not given up hope of playing after opting against surgery on his dislocated shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n 2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes<\/p>\n First Test: November 21-25, Perth Stadium, 1.30pm AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D\/N), 3.30pm AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 11am AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am AEDT<\/a><\/p>\n