Pat Cummins has revealed just how close he came to missing the entire Ashes series as he prepares to return from a back injury and resume the captaincy for Australia in Wednesday’s third Test at Adelaide Oval.
The fast bowler has not played a competitive match for five months after being diagnosed with what Cricket Australia described as a “lumbar bone stress” injury. Cummins admitted that he first felt soreness during his most recent Test appearance against the West Indies in July, when he did not bowl in a second innings that lasted just 14.3 overs.
Initially considered a doubt for the entire Ashes, Cummins has instead completed an “aggressive” rehabilitation program without setback. He was even in contention for the second Test in Brisbane but will make his return in Adelaide, replacing Steven Smith as captain and doing so without any restrictions on his workload.
Given his history of lower-back injuries — which delayed his early Test career by more than five years — Cummins acknowledged that any hiccup during his recovery would have ruled him out completely. That reality, he said, only deepened his reliance on Cricket Australia’s medical staff.
“I’m good to go,” Cummins said after Australia’s final training session. “I’ve been bowling at 100 per cent for a while. If I’d played in Brisbane, I probably would’ve been on limited overs. This week, it’s just ‘go and play’ like any other Test.
“The medical staff are the leading experts in this area. They see more of these injuries than anyone else, and I have complete trust in them. That’s the most comforting part.”
Cummins said the uncertainty surrounding his availability lingered well into the off-season. “I genuinely didn’t know if I’d play. We knew we had to tread lightly. If there’d been a flare-up or setback, we wouldn’t have risked it — I’d have been out of the series.”
He added that his recovery had been carefully managed, with open communication between himself, the medical team and coaches. “Luckily, it’s all played out pretty well.”
There remains an element of risk, given Cummins only resumed bowling at the end of October. But he was bullish about his fitness, explaining how the injury was first detected and managed.
“I felt it first in the West Indies,” he said. “I was sore in that second innings in Jamaica and was happy not to bowl. The first scan showed something brewing, and a follow-up scan four weeks later showed it was more serious.
“With a stress injury like that, you normally take 16 weeks completely off bowling to let the bone heal, then ramp up over three or four months. That would’ve meant missing the Ashes, so we set a pretty aggressive plan to get back in six or seven weeks.
“I haven’t had any hiccups. I’m feeling great — probably better than I expected. The back’s healed well, so here we are.”
While Cummins’ return might encourage opponents to test his durability by batting long, England captain Ben Stokes insisted it would not alter his side’s approach. “I won’t be paying too much attention to the fact Pat hasn’t played since July,” he said. “That’s not something we’re going to target.”
With the first two Tests separated by long breaks, the final three will now be played in quick succession. Cummins is unlikely to feature in all of them, but Australia have reinforcements ready, with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett rested this week and available later in the series.
Australia hold a 2–0 lead despite Cummins missing the opening Tests and Josh Hazlewood being ruled out with hamstring and Achilles issues. Jhye Richardson, who last played a Test against England in Adelaide four years ago, has also been training with the squad as he continues his return from shoulder surgery.
“It’s incredible and shows the depth of Australian fast bowling,” Cummins said. “We’re halfway through the series, I’m back, and you’ve got Ness and Doggy ready to go again. Jhye’s bowling in the background — it feels like everything has come together.
“We’re not just hanging on at the end of a series. We’re peaking. The guys who’ve stepped in have been outstanding, and that’s a huge credit to them, the coaching staff, and Steve managing the team so well.”
