Cummins Shows Positive Signs Ahead of Brisbane Test
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has taken a significant step toward playing in the second Ashes Test after completing a strong training session on Tuesday. The star fast bowler was spotted bowling with a pink ball at Cricket NSW headquarters in Sydney, providing the clearest indication yet that he'll be fit for the day-night encounter at the Gabba.
In more encouraging news for Australian selectors, fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood also participated in training, suggesting he'll feature at some point during the series despite missing the first Test with a hamstring injury.
Road to Recovery
The training session at Sydney Olympic Park occurred as the NSW state team continued their Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania. Cummins had previously admitted he feared missing the entire Ashes series at one point, but his condition has improved markedly in recent days.
The pace ace has been recovering well from extended training sessions and now appears on track to make his return in Brisbane. Cummins had always targeted the second Test for his comeback, though coach Andrew McDonald remained cautious when speaking to media on Monday.
McDonald explained the thinking behind Cummins' rehabilitation process, noting that observers who saw him bowl in Perth might have questioned why he wasn't playing immediately. "It looked like a player that was nearing the completion of his rehabilitation," McDonald said. "The intensity was there, the ball speed was there."
Selection Decisions Loom
While Cummins appears increasingly likely to feature in Brisbane, the situation with Hazlewood remains more uncertain. The experienced bowler was working with a red ball during Tuesday's session, which suggests he's unlikely to be ready for the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
McDonald expressed confidence that Hazlewood would be available at some stage during the Ashes series, despite the bowler's recent injury struggles. Hazlewood played just two of five Tests during last summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy and didn't travel to Sri Lanka in January.
"He's working through the first week of his rehab," McDonald said of Hazlewood. "I know that he'll be available at some point during the series. We've got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series."
The final decision on Cummins' participation is expected to be made later in the week, with selectors keen to ensure they're not rushing the captain back too quickly and risking further injury.
