Pat Cummins has pointed to long gaps between Tests as a reason why he could still feature in all five Ashes matches, despite nursing a back issue
Pat Cummins is aiming to play in all five Ashes Tests, but Australia’s grounded pace ace will only know if it’s a realistic option closer to the series.
The will-he-or-won’t-he storyline surrounding Cummins’ fitness is set to dominate the build up to the Ashes, with the nation’s top-ranked bowler nursing a back issue.
Cummins has fronted media three times this month since news of the injury, first at a Cricket Australia event a fortnight ago and last week at a sponsorship announcement.
On Friday it was one of Cummins’ passionate projects that brought him out, with $50 million in federal government funding announced for sporting clubs to deal with climate change while also remaining environmentally sustainable.
At each event the Test captain has been able to offer little news on his injury, with the quick admitting on Friday it was very much a wait-and-see situation ahead of the Ashes.
Eyebrows were raised this week when Australia coach Andrew McDonald said Cummins would “partake” in the series, with the first Test against England starting in Perth on November 21
And while McDonald added later in the same interview Cummins would play a “significant” part in the Ashes, he indicated five Tests was never the plan for a quick.
Cummins, though, remains hopeful.
The 32-year-old is unlikely to play a warm-up game before the Test summer, but could join Australia’s ODI squad in the lead up to work with medical staff.
He is insistent five Tests could still be an option after playing through the past two home summers without needing a rest.
“The aim is five. Every summer you kind of aim for five,” Cummins said.
“This one might be a little bit different because you’re coming in a little bit different than other ones. But the starting aim is for five.
“Once we get closer, we’re probably going to chat through potentially more realistic situations.
“It’s honestly too far out to say, but the aim at the moment is to try and be ready for all of it.”
Cummins pointed to the fact there were clear eight-day gaps built into the schedule for the first three Tests as to why backing up may not be an issue.
But he also admitted it was unlikely Australia would stick with an unchanged attack throughout the summer.
“Most years, at least one of the bowlers normally goes down,” Cummins said.
“Joshy (Hazlewood) missed the back half last year.
“Obviously conditions change, but I think that you just need that fresh bowler, guys that can come in and bowl 40 overs without really blinking in a Test match.”
Cummins also gave the strongest indication yet he would be fine going into the Ashes without a game under his belt for NSW.
“I don’t think it’s vital,” he said.
“If you’d asked me 10 years ago, I would have said I really feel like in myself I need to play games.
“Now it’s centre wickets, net sessions, I’ve bowled a lot more overs. I feel like I can kind of get up to Test level pretty quickly.
“I won’t go into a Test where I feel like I can break down or whatever.”
Cummins was speaking at Penrith’s Howell Oval, where he launched his Cricket for Climate organisation in 2021 with solar panels at the venue.
The Test captain visited Canberra late last month to help spearhead the Sport Forever initiative, meeting with prime minister Anthony Albanese and climate change minister Chris Bowen.
The result of that is now $50 million in government funding announced Friday, which will help clubs deal with the impact of extreme weather events and fund implementation of solar panels and batteries.
“We think with this funding we might be able to (help) around 500 clubs,” Cummins said.
“And hopefully, we can make community sport more accessible to more Aussies.”
Cricket Australia, meanwhile, had to deal with another injury headache on Friday with Alex Carey replacing Josh Inglis for the T20 tour of New Zealand after the latter suffered a calf strain while training in Perth.
Inglis is expected to return to action in October’s home white-ball series against India.
2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes
First Test: November 21-25, Perth Stadium, 1.30pm AEDT
Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N), 3.30pm AEDT
Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 11am AEDT
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am AEDT
Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10.30am AEDT
