“We'd be very confident”- Australia coach provides massive update on Pat Cummins' injury ahead of Ashes 2025-26

Pat Cummins is recovering from a back injury.

Australia Cricket Team head coach Andrew McDonald has provided a massive update on captain Pat Cummins’ injury. The pacer has been recovering from a back stress injury and this has kept him out of the field since July.

The first test of Ashes 2025-26 between Australia and England will commence on November 21 at Perth Cricket Stadium in Perth. However, Cummins is highly likely to miss the clash due to his injury. The right-arm pacer last played for Australia during the three-match test series against the West Indies in July.

Due to his back injury, Cummins was ruled out of the recent T20I series against New Zealand. He is also set to miss the upcoming white-ball series against India, scheduled to commence on October 19. In Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Marsh will lead the side in the ODI series.

Australia coach provides update on Pat Cummins’ fitness

With more than a month to go for The Ashes 2025-26, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said that Cummins can be fit ahead of the series if he returns on the field within the next 10 days. He also added that Cummins has shown positive signs of recovery in the last few days.

“There’s some positive signs speaking to Patty over the last few days. He’s a lot more optimistic. Those who have been through this type of injury (say) these things ebb and flow. A couple of weeks ago, did he think he was a chance (to play in Perth)? Potentially not, he was a little bit sore. Then you flip it forward two weeks and there’s a lot more positivity. We’ve still got a little bit to go,” he said as quoted by the ICC.

“One of the benefits with Patty is that he has had the ability to prepare for Test matches off shortened preparations. So if it was to be shrunken down, we’d be very confident that he would still be able to perform in the first Test,” he added.

McDonald also added that they will get a clear picture of Cummins’ fitness by next week.

“But the reality is, we’re starting to get tight in terms of the times. We’re still optimistic, hopeful, but this time next week, I think we’ll be in a position to get better gauge on where he’s at,” he further said.

Meanwhile, if Cummins misses the opening game at Perth, Steve Smith will captain the side in the encounter. Moreover, pacer Scott Boland might replace him in the playing XI, joining senior pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

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