Pat Cummins has indicated that his involvement in the remainder of the Ashes series is far from certain, admitting he is unlikely to line up for the Boxing Day Test after Australia wrapped up a “pretty amazing” series win in Adelaide inside just 11 days of play.
The Australia captain, who took six wickets in the third Test, was playing his first match in more than five months following a back injury. While Cummins said he pulled up well physically, the prospect of playing back-to-back Tests was always considered a long shot.
“I’m feeling really good, but we’ll wait and see for the rest of the series,” Cummins said. “We had a pretty aggressive build-up because the Ashes were on the line, and we felt that risk was worth taking. Now that the series is done, there’s probably a sense of reassessing things.”
Cummins suggested Melbourne is unlikely, with discussions to follow regarding the Sydney Test. “I doubt I’ll be playing in Melbourne, and then we’ll have a chat about Sydney. Before the series, while it was live, it was all about taking the risk and having a crack. Now that the job’s done, we’ll need to weigh it all up.”
England briefly threatened a remarkable escape on the final day as Jamie Smith and Will Jacks counterattacked with confidence, but Australia’s cushion of runs ultimately proved decisive. The hosts were tested further by the loss of Nathan Lyon to what appeared to be a series-ending hamstring injury, yet their depth again shone through.
Mitchell Starc led the final-day charge with three wickets, including the crucial dismissal of Jacks thanks to a stunning catch at first slip from Marnus Labuschagne. Scott Boland then applied the finishing touches to complete another emphatic Australian victory.
“It feels pretty awesome—amazing, really,” Cummins said at the presentation. “This is a series we’ve been building towards for a long time. It wasn’t easy today, but we found a way. The changing room is buzzing.”
Australia’s ability to apply sustained pressure was a defining feature of the match, complemented by outstanding fielding and another superb display behind the stumps from Alex Carey. Cummins highlighted patience as a cornerstone of his team’s success.
“That’s when we’re at our best,” he said. “You can’t rush things in Australian conditions. It’s often about the grind. I loved the way everyone toiled today. It got a bit closer than I would’ve liked, but I’m very happy.”
Cummins also pointed to the group’s resilience in handling adversity, particularly Lyon’s late injury. “Nothing ever goes perfectly,” he said. “There’s always something thrown at you. This group has shown time and again that it just gets on with it.”
He added that the seamless transitions within the squad—whether covering his own earlier absence or responding to Lyon’s injury—have been key to Australia’s sustained success.
Reflecting on his own comeback, Cummins admitted the road back had been demanding. “The last couple of months have been a grind,” he said. “I gave myself every chance, and days like this—packed crowd, retaining the Ashes—make it all worth it.”
