Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has given a cautious yet optimistic update on Pat Cummins' recovery, saying the captain remains "on track" to feature in the Ashes Test series against England amid battling a lower-back injury.
Cummins has been sidelined since July and is racing against time to be fit for the first Test against England in Perth, starting November 21. The 32-year-old has recently resumed running after scans showed progress in his rehabilitation, though he is yet to be cleared for bowling.
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Pat Cummins still has a chance to play first Ashes Test in Perth
McDonald admitted that the team is "pushing time" to have Cummins ready for the opener but said the signs remain encouraging.
"My view would be four, four-and-a-half weeks of bowling before the first Test. Otherwise, you bring in other risks - not being skill ready or suffering a soft tissue injury early in the series," McDonald told reporters.
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The coach added that both he and Cummins are aware of the tight timelines but are balancing optimism with caution.
"A couple of weeks ago, did he think he was a chance to play in Perth? Maybe not. But now he is a lot more optimistic. Things have been trending in the right direction," McDonald said.
While Cummins works his way back, Australia's other fast bowlers - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland, are ramping up preparations for the marquee series.
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Starc and Hazlewood are set to play in the ODI series against India and a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales, while Boland will continue with Victoria.
Steve Smith is expected to lead the side if Cummins doesn't recover in time, though McDonald hinted that the final call will be made next week once the medical team gets a clearer picture.
Even if Cummins misses the first Test, he could find match fitness in domestic games for New South Wales or potentially through a warm-up fixture against the England Lions, before making his way into the team for the remaining Tests.
Australia will weigh the risks of playing Cummins slightly underdone against the need to have their captain leading from the front in the crucial Test series against rivals England.
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