Australian cricket captain and star bowler Pat Cummins has spoken about his aim to play in the second Ashes test as he overcomes a lower back stress injury.
Cummins said that he bowled "seven or eight overs" at "three-quarter pace" on Wednesday, telling reporters at a Channel Seven cricket event.
“It’s all feeling really good. On track and yeah, probably better than I expected,” Cummins told reporters.
“Each session is incremental. Once I get over to Perth, I should be pretty close to a full run-up and getting some overs in.
“No stress so far. That doesn’t guarantee anything, but all the signs look pretty good so far... I feel like we’ve got a good plan and hopefully I can take part in a fair bit of the summer.”
Cummins, who has taken 307 test wickets for Australia, said that he will be "trying to keep that second test as a real live option."
“I think realistically, if you have a big game, bowling 40 or 50 overs, and there’s a game starting a few days later, it probably might be a bridge too far,” Cummins said. “If I get right, hopefully I can try and play as much of them as I can.
“It’s quite a meticulous, mapped out plan. It’s all on track. The good thing is that I’m pulling up well. Body feels great. You kind of tick off a session and make sure you’re right for the next one. I haven’t had any hiccups.
“I’m comfortable just doing nets. We’ll obviously try and simulate as much as we can, try and get some centre wickets and have some really good hit outs where we’ll try and simulate spells. Maybe bowling in the morning and afternoon.
“It might not be a game but as close to simulated as possible.”
The first Ashes test starts on November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth, with day one already sold out.