Australia’s Pat Cummins (Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins, sidelined for more than three months with a lower back injury, hinted on Thursday that he could return for the second Ashes Test against England after announcing the squad for the series opener in Perth.The 32-year-old bowler is out as he got injured during the match against West Indies.“I feel really good. On the track and yeah, probably better than I expected,” Cummins told reporters.
“South Africa kept fighting, they deserved to be champions”: Pat Cummins
“Each session is incremental. Once I get to Perth I should be pretty close to going full throttle and getting some turnovers,” he said.“It’s probably only when you get closer that you really know where you are,” Cummins added, adding that “He’s trying to keep that second Test as a real live option” for the day-night contest in Brisbane on December 4.Local television cameras recently caught Cummins bowling a five-pace run-up during a short clean session in Sydney, sparking speculation about his comeback.Cummins will travel with the Australian team to Perth for the first Test starting on November 21, with Steve Smith serving as captain. Scott Boland joins Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in the seam attack.The Australian team consists of Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster.The last Ashes series in 2023 ended in a 2-2 draw in England. An England team has not secured a win in Australia since their 2010-2011 tour.
