England cricket greats cast doubt over Pat Cummins’ Ashes hopes as back injury lingers

Luminaries of English cricket have cast a dark shadow over the Ashes hopes of Australia captain Pat Cummins, who looks certain to miss at least the first Test of the series next month with a back stress injury.

Cummins is in a race against time to be fit to lead the Aussies against England, if not in the first Test on November 21 at Perth, then the second on December 4 in Brisbane.

Either way, he has a short runway to be ready for what could be the biggest series of his captaincy tenure.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has his doubts.

“He’s definitely not starting,” he told the Stick To Cricket podcast.

“And I’ll ask the bowler (co-host Chris Woakes) — a stress fracture is not good, is it? You’re not suddenly going to get a massage and (be) alright to play.

“That is time. And if there’s any slight hotspot, no chance.”

Woakes, who recently retired from international cricket after missing out on a spot in England’s Ashes squad, said Cummins is walking a fine line if and when he plays.

“I think if he comes back into the Ashes and feels it at all, that’ll be him done,” he said.

“There’s an element of needing some cricket beforehand and overs under your belt.

“Trying to build up from a stress fracture is tough.

“I also feel like going into an Ashes series, walking out there in the cauldron of a first Test match at Perth, you want to know you’ve got a bit behind you, not nothing.

“Obviously there are players that need more than others, but he’ll be working behind the scenes to make sure he’s got enough.”

Alastair Cook added: “It’s also not just the back, is it?

“Suddenly the first time you come back and bowl, everything hurts.”

Should Cummins fail to get up for the first Test, he will almost certainly be replaced by Scott Boland, whose record, particularly in Australia, is as good as anyone’s in world cricket.

But the omission of Cummins means more than just losing a wicket-taker, as Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath explained.

“That’s a big blow if Cummo’s not playing in that first Test match,” McGrath told The Fast Bowling Cartel.

“And it’s not just his bowling, it’s the attitude and the aura that the Australian bowling attack has. When you lose one of your main members, it has a positive impact on the other team.

“Scotty Boland’s got such a great record here in Australia, hopefully he can continue that.”