Australia’s chair of selectors is confident that Pat Cummins will play in the Ashes series against England. The 32-year-old captain has not bowled since Australia’s 3-0 series defeat of West Indies in July because of a stress injury in his back. Cummins had admitted he was unlikely to play in the Ashes opener in Perth on 21 November.
However, George Bailey said: “We know time is getting short and there’s permutations around that, not just around the back, but other factors as well. It’s positive. [We are] really confident that he’s going to play a major part. Hopefully it’s the first Test. If not, then we’ll pick it up.”