New South Wales: Australia’s selectors remain optimistic that captain Pat Cummins will "play a major part" in the upcoming Ashes series, despite no final decision being made on his availability less than five weeks before the first Test.
Chair of selectors George Bailey struck a positive tone while speaking to reporters in Perth on Saturday, saying Cummins’ recovery from a back issue was progressing well. "I actually have no further update on that from when I think the last time Pat spoke. It’s progressing. He’s building up. He’s optimistic about it. I think actually the more he’s done over the last few days, the more optimistic he’s become, but I categorically don’t know if he’s bowled a ball," he said.
Cummins had earlier admitted he was less likely than likely to be fit for Perth and would need at least four weeks of bowling to be ready. Despite that uncertainty, Bailey said there were positive signs in the skipper’s training workload.
