JUSTIN LANGER: Pat Cummins is still optimistic he can play in Ashes series despite injury setback

There is no bigger news in world cricket than the reports that Pat Cummins is set to miss the first Ashes Test in Perth, perhaps the whole series.

In our world, the words stress fracture sends shivers down the spine – literally – of any fast bowler, physio, doctor or coach.

Few bowlers escape the scourge of this debilitating injury, including the matured spine of Australia’s inspirational captain.

But speaking to Pat today, he is still optimistic of playing a key role in this Ashes series.

Australian cricket has spent millions of dollars researching stress fractures in fast bowlers and team management will therefore follow elite rehabilitation processes to get the captain back on the park.

In his mind nothing has changed since he was first diagnosed following Australia’s Test tour to the West Indies in July.

He, like other close observers of the captain’s progress, was surprised by today’s headlines that he might be out of the whole series.

He remains optimistic and will do everything possible to be ready.

But, in the event he doesn’t recover from this injury, Cummins is irreplaceable. Many will argue no one is irreplaceable, but in this case, Cummins is.

A multi-faceted player, Cummins is not only a calm captain who inspires his team on and off the field, but he is also a generational fast bowler, a batsman who has scored crucial lower-order runs over the last few years, and a gun fielder.

Ask any international batsman who they least like to face in Test cricket and they will all say Pat Cummins. When Australia is in trouble, notice who gets thrown the ball. Or in his case, who grabs the ball to break open the game.

With the knack of taking a wicket when others are struggling, it is no wonder the Australian camp will be sweating on the fitness of their most valuable player. England on the other hand will respectfully pray he plays as little of the series as possible.

A Cummins-less Australia is a different proposition than one that is led by the 32-year-old superstar. Australia is very aware of that.

Ironically, the only other irreplaceable player is Cummins counterpart, England captain Ben Stokes.

Dogged with injuries, his latest a shoulder issue, I predicted last week - with 50 days to go until the first ball of the Ashes - that Stokes and Cummins were the two players who will be most pivotal to the success and failure of this summer’s Ashes.

As Australia sweat on Cummins, England will be doing the same with their captain who missed the last Test of their summer with a recurring shoulder issue.

No cricket follower will ever forget the Stokes miracle innings at Headingley six years ago. What they may not remember is his bowling spell the night before where he bowled England back into the game. He was extraordinarily courageous and skilled.

For this Ashes summer, a series featuring Cummins and Stokes led teams will be a mouth-watering contest. Let’s hope injuries don’t rob them, and us, of chance to watch two superstar players, leading their highly skilled teams into another Ashes battle.