Will Pat Cummins play in the Ashes? Latest injury updates and possible replacement for Australian cricket captain – sportingnews.com

Tom Naghten
Ahead of what is shaping as a blockbuster Ashes series, one of the big talking points coming into summer is the fitness of Australian captain Pat Cummins.
The fast bowler has been sidelined with a back complaint and is no guarantee to feature once the series gets going in Perth on November 21.
We bring you the latest on the Aussie skipper’s condition and possible replacements if he does miss out:
MORE: What Australia will miss with Cummins sidelined
There’s no doubt about it, Cummins is racing the clock to be fit for this summer’s Ashes series, with the first Test at least possibly coming too soon.
Speaking on his recovery from a back-stress issue, the 32-year-old said he was making progress, but still had a lot of boxes to tick before he can play Test cricket.
“I’m running today, and every second day,” Cummins said at Kayo’s summer of cricket launch on October 13.
“Each run is getting a little longer and then we kind of get into bowling next week.
“Probably a couple of weeks away before putting on the spikes and bowling out on turf.
“It’s been a good couple of weeks. Each sessions feels better and better.
“If you’re playing a Test match, you want to make sure you’re right to bowl 20 overs in a day and you don’t really have to think about it.
“It’s a bit early to know,” he said.
“It’s pretty hard to go from not bowling at all to (playing) five Tests, so first step is trying to have a shot at being right.”
A back injury saw Cummins miss over five years of Test cricket following his debut as an 18-year-old in 2011, but the New South Welshman has proved remarkably durable since then.
The captain remained positive regarding his time out of the game.
“Some days I’m kind of annoyed because it’s the Ashes and a big summer,” he said.
“Other days, I’m a little more realistic. The last seven or eight years, I’ve had uninterrupted home summers so I’ve had a really good run as a fast bowler.
“Someone like [Josh Hazlewood] has missed the last couple of times. He’s been a little more unlucky so maybe it’s my turn.
“If it’s not to be, it’s part of cricket getting injuries.”
Cummins has been a key part of Australia’s bowling quartet, alongside Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
When either of the three quicks have missed out, Victorian seamer Scott Boland has done an excellent job filling in.
In nine Tests at home, the 36-year-old has taken 49 wickets at an average of 12.63, including the iconic 6-7 against the English in the Boxing Day Test last time they were out here.
Boland is almost certain to get the nod if selectors go for a similarly balanced side.
Alternatively, Starc and Hazlewood could shoulder the bulk of the pace bowling duties, with some combination of all-rounders Cameron Green, Beau Webster and Mitch Marsh helping out to cover the “third seamer” role.
Waiting in the wings, Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson have had brief tastes of Test cricket, while Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett and Nathan McAndrew have completed long apprenticeships domestically.
Regardless, Aussie selectors have some big decisions to make come the start of summer.
Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he’s been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat’s goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.

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