Coach Andrew McDonald remains hopeful as the hosts race against time to get skipper fit for Perth Test
\n SYDNEY
\nAustralia is in a \u201ctight\u201d race to get injured captain Pat Cummins ready for the first Ashes Test in November, coach Andrew McDonald admitted Friday, while insisting he was \u201cstill optimistic\u201d. Pace spearhead Cummins has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a Test against the West Indies in July.
\nMcDonald said there was \u201ca lot more positivity\u201d surrounding the skipper\u2019s chances of playing in the opening Test match in Perth starting November 21.
\n\u201cBut the reality is, we\u2019re starting to get tight in terms of the times,\u201d McDonald said.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re still optimistic, hopeful, but this time next week, I think we\u2019ll be in a position to get a better gauge on where he\u2019s at.\u201d
\nCummins would need at least \u201cfour, four-and-a-half weeks\u201d of bowling practice to condition his body for the rigours of Ashes cricket, McDonald said.
\n\u201cOne of the benefits with Patty is that he has had the ability to prepare for Test matches off shortened preparations.
\n\u201cSo if it was to be shrunken down, we\u2019d be very confident that he would still be able to perform in the first Test.\u201d
\nMcDonald said he would weigh up whether Cummins could be included in the side even if he was a \u201clittle bit underdone\u201d.
\nAustralia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw.
\nThey enjoyed a 4-0 sweep of England at home in 2021-22.
\nCummins was the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Coach Andrew McDonald remains hopeful as the hosts race against time to get skipper fit for Perth Test SYDNEY Australia is in a \u201ctight\u201d race to get injured captain Pat Cummins ready for the first Ashes Test in November, coach Andrew McDonald admitted Friday, while insisting he was \u201cstill optimistic\u201d. Pace spearhead Cummins has not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":507980,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-507967","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n