Pat Cummins has revealed just how close he came to missing the entire Ashes series as he prepares to return from a lower-back injury and resume the Australian captaincy in Wednesday’s third Test against England at Adelaide Oval.
The Australian fast bowler has not played competitive cricket for five months due to what Cricket Australia described as a “lumbar bone stress” injury. Cummins admitted the problem first surfaced during Australia’s Test tour of the West Indies in July, where he experienced soreness in his lower back and did not bowl in the second innings at Sabina Park.
Initially, Cummins was considered a serious doubt for the whole Ashes campaign. However, after completing an aggressive rehabilitation program without any setbacks, he is now ready to return, replacing Steven Smith as captain. Importantly, Cummins confirmed he will have no restrictions on the number of overs he can bowl in Adelaide.
Aggressive Rehabilitation and Full Trust in Medical Staff
Cummins explained that the recovery process required careful management, especially given his history of back injuries earlier in his career that once kept him out of Test cricket for more than five years. He credited Cricket Australia’s medical staff for guiding him safely through the comeback and said any setback would have ended his Ashes hopes altogether.
“I’m good to go,” Cummins said after Australia’s final training session. “I’ve been bowling at 100% for a while now. If I’d played in Brisbane, I probably would’ve had limited overs, but this week it’s just go and play like any other Test.”
He revealed that after initial scans in July showed early warning signs, further imaging confirmed a more serious issue. That led to 16 weeks without bowling to allow the bone to fully heal before beginning a rapid ramp-up phase. Under normal circumstances, such a recovery would take several months and rule a player out of a major series, but Cummins and the medical team opted for a condensed six-to-seven-week plan.
Despite the risks, Cummins said he feels better than expected and is confident his body has responded well. “I haven’t had any hiccups. The back’s healed well, and I’m feeling great,” he said.
Australia’s Fast-Bowling Depth Boosts Ashes Campaign
Cummins’ return comes at a crucial time in the series. Australia lead the Ashes 2-0 despite missing their regular captain and losing Josh Hazlewood to hamstring and Achilles injuries. The team has leaned on impressive depth, with bowlers like Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett stepping in effectively.
With the final three Tests scheduled back-to-back and only short breaks in between, it remains uncertain whether Cummins will feature in all remaining matches. However, Australia also have reinforcements waiting, including Jhye Richardson, who has been training with the squad following shoulder surgery.
Cummins praised the depth of Australia’s pace stocks, saying the timing of his return feels ideal. “We’re not just hanging on toward the end of the series. It actually feels like we’re peaking,” he said, crediting both the players who filled in and Steven Smith’s leadership during his absence.
England captain Ben Stokes downplayed any temptation to target Cummins’ lack of recent match play, stating it would not alter England’s approach. As Cummins takes the field in Adelaide, Australia will hope their returning skipper can maintain momentum and push them closer to retaining the Ashes.
