Australia captain Pat Cummins admits he might be “aggressive” to prove his fitness from a back injury for the start of the Ashes.
The star quick will miss upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India due to lumbar bone stress.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cummins battles back injury ahead of Ashes.
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Although chairman of selectors George Bailey expects Cummins to lead Australia out for the Ashes opener in Perth in November, there are no guarantees.
Speaking for the first time since the extent of his injury was revealed, Cummins wants to avoid watching the highly anticipated series from the sidelines.
“That would be devastating, so we’ll be doing everything we can to try to be right for that and try to make a few decisions a little bit closer,” Cummins told reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday.
“But confident, do the rehab right and give it a good crack.
“At this stage of my career I feel like I can probably get up to speed a bit quicker than when I was 18 or 19.
“Back then you probably feel like you need to play a few (Sheffield) Shield games or one-dayers.
“I’m pretty confident even if I don’t get a chance to play a Shield game, I can get up to speed.”
Cummins pulled up sore following Australia’s 3-0 demolition of the West Indies in July, despite only bowling a combined 60 overs across the three Tests.
He was again pressed by reporters on whether he would be right for the Ashes opener in November.
“I think this far out, it’s kind of hard to know, but again, we’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything right to be right for Perth,” Cummins said.
“It’s a big Ashes series. It doesn’t get much bigger. So I think you’re willing to take a few risks and be a little bit aggressive, to try and play as much Tests as you can.
“It doesn’t feel too bad, but I’m obviously not bowling or doing too much at the moment.
“With bone injuries, you really just want to settle it down.
“I’m still doing a bit of gym, but no real running, no bowling.
“Get that right and then we’ll build up to the summer. We’ve got loads of time, there’s about 12 weeks until the first Test.
“We’ll see how the next little bit pans out.’‘
If Cummins isn’t fit, Australia have captaincy and bowling options to cover him.
Scott Boland would almost certainly be called into the pace attack, the Victorian spectacularly taking a hat-trick in Australia’s previous Test against West Indies in July.
Former skipper Steve Smith has also covered for Cummins numerous times since the star quick became Test captain in November 2021.
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