Star Australian pacer gives update on Pat Cummins availability for 2nd Ashes Test, says…

Pat Cummins is expected to miss the first Test of the Ashes series against England, leaving Australia without both their regular captain and a great fast bowler. When asked if Cummins would be fit for the second Test in Brisbane, teammate Mitchell Starc laughed and said, “Can we get him in this week?”. This highlights the 32-year-old’s significance to the team even more.

“Yeah, I think so. Probably understand why he doesn’t train much because when he does, he makes us all look silly. He was really sharp the other day and sounds like he’s pulling up pretty well so very positive signs,” Starc told reporters.

For the series opener, Australia will be without both Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, putting added pressure on senior bowlers such as Nathan Lyon and Starc to take 20 English wickets. Hazlewood will miss the first Test with a hamstring injury, while Cummins was ruled out of the opener in November due to a spinal stress injury.

Since 2014, Australia have played only two home Test matches without Cummins and Hazlewood together in their starting lineup. The first in 2021 against England, and the second in 2022 against the West Indies.

“I think we’re all pretty clear on what our roles are. Obviously I’ve got a little bit more experience there. Scotty’s been around for a fair while now, so it’s not like I’m telling him what to do. We’ve got Patty in the sheds with us anyway. So, I may take on a little bit of an experienced role. But we’ve all been around the traps for a while, so it’s just staying together as a group,” Starc said on Wednesday per ICC.

England also announced their XII for the opening Ashes Test on Wednesday. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and fast bowler Mark Wood, who has passed a fitness test and is likely to be in the playing XI, were included.

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