Posted by AI on 2025-09-03 11:59:26 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-26 00:34:15
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The injury-plagued Pat Cummins has suffered another setback ahead of the Ashes, but the resilient fast bowler is confident he'll be ready to go come July.
Cummins was hampered by a nagging back issue during the recently concluded World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa, casting doubts over his availability for the much-anticipated Ashes series in July. The 28-year-old, who is coming off a disappointing Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean, has suffered numerous injuries over the last few years, but he is confident of recovering in time for the Ashes.
"It's definitely not a recurrence of my previous injuries," Cummins said. "I wouldn't be playing if I felt like it was worsening, it's just a really frustrating nerve thing that gets aggravated when I bowl. It's settled down now, we've just got to make sure it's settled down enough to play the next few days."
Cummins, who is currently leading Australia's limited-overs squad against Zimbabwe, added that he would do "whatever it takes" to be ready for the Ashes. "Every time I've had a setback it's made me more resilient and more motivated to get back out there," he said. "So, I'm looking forward to that challenge if it does happen to be manageable in the next few days."
The pace bowler is crucial to Australia's plans for the Ashes, with the team lacking a genuine fast bowling option since the retirement of Mitchell Johnson. Cummins finished as the leading wicket-taker in the 2019 Ashes, which Australia won comfortably against England.
If he recovers in time, Cummins will be a shoo-in for one of the bowling spots, likely to be joined by Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, with the fourth bowling spot up for grabs ahead of the Ashes.
The fate of Cummins and the fourth bowling spot will be crucial to Australia's Ashes campaign, with the likes of Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Jonny Bairstow ready to unleash fury on the Australian bowling attack.