Australia spinner Nathan Lyon has played down hopes of captain Pat Cummins returning in time for the opening Ashes Test in Perth, suggesting a comeback in Brisbane is a far more realistic target as the fast bowler continues his recovery from a back injury.
Cummins, 32, has been racing against time to prove his fitness for the much-anticipated series against England. While Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey remains confident the skipper will feature heavily across the five-match contest, Lyon believes the opener on 21 November could come too soon.
‘Perth Might Be Difficult’ – Lyon
Speaking to ABC Sport, Lyon said he expects Cummins to miss the first Test but praised the captain’s professionalism and determination through recovery.
“Perth might be pretty difficult, if I’m being honest,” Lyon admitted. “But realistically, I think there’s still a big goal to potentially play Brisbane [or] Adelaide.”
Should Cummins sit out in Perth, he will have 13 extra days to strengthen his case for selection before the Brisbane day-night Test begins on 4 December — followed by another 13-day gap leading into the Adelaide fixture on 17 December.
Australia Confident in Cummins’ Return
Cummins was already ruled out of Australia’s white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans confirmed a lumbar bone stress injury. It is not the first time he has battled back problems — similar issues between 2012 and 2016 sidelined him for three of four Australian summers.
Lyon says Cummins is doing everything possible to be ready.
“He’s really leading the way by setting the example,” he said. “He’s training his backside off… He’s giving himself the best chance and that’s all we can ask.”
The Ashes series runs from 21 November 2025 to 7 January 2026, with ball-by-ball coverage available across BBC platforms including Sounds, Radio 5 Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website and app.
Discussion about this post