The confidence of Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has been shaken after a second back scan revealed a concerning picture, deepening injury worries ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series against England. Cummins admitted that his fitness is being closely monitored as the opening Test in Perth approaches.
Cummins has been diagnosed with lumbar bone stress, a common injury for fast bowlers who endure intense workloads. Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Cummins will not participate in the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India to manage the injury. The scans, conducted after Cummins experienced ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies tour, indicated that further management would be necessary in the coming months.
Despite the setback, Cummins remains determined to lead Australia in the first Ashes Test, scheduled to begin on November 21. He expressed his willingness to "take a few risks" and be "aggressive" in his recovery to ensure his participation in the series. "That would be devastating," Cummins said, referring to the possibility of missing the opening Test. "We'll be doing everything we can to be right for that, make a few decisions a little bit closer, but [I'm] confident we'll do the rehab right and give it a good crack."
Cummins pinpointed the World Test Championship final as a potential starting point for his back issue, where he bowled 35.1 overs. He further felt the soreness during the subsequent tour of the West Indies. An initial scan after the West Indies series revealed "a little bit going on," leading to a quiet month to allow the area to settle. However, a follow-up scan on Monday indicated that the issue had not completely resolved, necessitating caution.
While Cummins is currently refraining from bowling or engaging in strenuous activity, he remains optimistic about his recovery. He acknowledged the importance of the Ashes series and expressed his readiness to push his limits to be fit. "It's a big Ashes series, [it] doesn't get much bigger, so you're willing to be aggressive and take a few risks to try and play as much of the Tests as you can," Cummins stated.
George Bailey, Australia's chair of selectors, echoed the optimism, stating that there is "plenty of time" for Cummins to recover before the first Test. Bailey anticipates Cummins will be ready to play in Perth, even without prior Sheffield Shield match practice.
Cummins has a history of back problems, including a stress fracture that hampered his early international career. However, in recent years, he has been a consistent presence in the Australian team, alongside Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, due to careful workload management.
In light of Cummins' injury, Cricket Australia will implement an "ongoing management plan" to monitor his workload in preparation for the Ashes series. While the team remains hopeful that Cummins will be fit for the entire series, there is a possibility that his workload may need to be managed throughout the five matches. This could potentially open the door for Steve Smith to captain Australia at some point during the series.
Cummins' setback adds pressure on fellow fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland to remain fit throughout the Test summer. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20I cricket to prioritize Test cricket and prepare for the Ashes series and the Test series in India next year.
