A sight has emerged from Perth that is sure to send a shiver down the spines of England cricket supporters while delighting Australian fans. Aussie pace spearhead Pat Cummins was seen bowling with significant intensity in the nets at Perth Stadium, strongly indicating a potential comeback for the second Ashes Test.
Captain's Vigorous Comeback Bid
The Australian captain, who is 32, appears to be firming for a place in the side for the second Test in Brisbane after completing an extended session where he bowled at full pace on Tuesday. Cummins had been previously ruled out of the series opener against England due to a back stress injury, which was considered the most serious he has suffered since 2016.
However, in a major boost for the home side, he trained with his teammates and bowled for almost an hour. The session concluded with Cummins giving a small, satisfied fist pump to his colleagues, a clear signal that his recovery is progressing exactly as planned.
New Faces and Historic Debuts
The net session also provided a glimpse into the future of the Australian bowling attack. Cummins was seen spending time in conversation with South Australian quick Brendan Doggett. Doggett is widely tipped to make his Test debut in the first match.
Should he be named in the starting XI, Doggett will become just the third player with Indigenous heritage to represent Australia in Test cricket, following in the footsteps of Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland. For the first Test at Optus Stadium on November 21, Australia's fast-bowling attack is set to consist of Mitchell Starc, Boland, and Doggett.
Implications for England and the Ashes
The potential return of Pat Cummins is a daunting prospect for the English team. Since his Ashes debut in the 2017-18 series, Cummins has never been on the losing side against England. His appearance this summer is therefore a significant source of concern for the visitors.
Several factors are working in the captain's favour for a smooth return. Having a week off before the second Test at the Gabba provides crucial extra recovery time. Furthermore, the Brisbane match will be a day-night Test, a format that has historically been less strenuous on bowlers' bodies. Despite this positive outlook, Cummins has himself admitted that once he is fit, it is unlikely he will play through the rest of the summer unchanged.
Meanwhile, the prospect of a Test debut is also dawning for batter Jake Weatherald, who is expected to open with Usman Khawaja. Weatherald expressed his awe at sharing a dressing room with players he has long admired, telling cricket.com.au, 'Meeting people you admire so much has been a pretty cool experience... For me it's just getting to know them a bit better and just trying to crack into what I do well.'
