In a major boost for Australia’s Ashes campaign, Captain Pat Cummins has officially declared himself fit and ready to return to the playing XI for the pivotal Third Test against England, commencing at the Adelaide Oval on December 17.
The world-class fast bowler, who missed the first two matches of the series with a lumbar stress injury, confirmed his imminent comeback while performing commentary duties during the Second Test at the Gabba.
Cummins, speaking with refreshing candour, revealed he was “relatively close” to featuring in the Gabba fixture but ultimately backed the selectors’ cautious approach to his recovery.
”The body feels great, I’m bowling at 100%. But the big question mark coming back from a bone injury is… I haven’t done back-to-back bowls,” Cummins explained. “One of the high-risk things going into a Test match is you’re going to be expected to bowl two days in a row… it didn’t feel like the right Test match to take that risk.”
The management opted to give their captain an extra week, a decision that ensures he returns with maximum resilience for the remainder of the series.
Praising the Gabba Grind
Before signing off on his fitness update, Cummins took a moment to commend the resilience shown by his teammates in the current Test. He singled out the vital partnership between Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland on Day Three, calling it one of the “best sessions of Test cricket he’s witnessed in a while,” praising their “intelligent batting display” and ability to absorb pressure.
His return for the Adelaide Test will complete a world-class pace quartet for Australia as they look to maintain their dominance in the series
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