Australian captain and frontline pacer Pat Cummins has been out of action since the tour of the West Indies, and his return has become one of the most anticipated storylines of this Ashes summer. With Australia missing two pillars of their famed fast-bowling trio, Cummins’ presence has never felt more crucial. Encouragingly, the skipper showed strong signs of progress during his net session on Day 1 of the opening Test in Perth.

The Ashes began with Australia forced into an unfamiliar position—fielding an attack without both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The absence of these two senior speedsters dealt a significant blow, especially given the series opener on a traditionally pace-friendly Perth surface.

Mitchell Starc, the lone warrior from the trio, stepped up with a magnificent seven-wicket haul, rattling the English batting order. Yet despite Starc’s brilliance, Australia clearly missed the control and discipline Cummins and Hazlewood usually offer, as England’s pacers proved far more economical through the day.

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Until now, reports have only confirmed that Cummins would miss the first Test, with his return expected at any stage during the series. He last turned out for Australia in the Caribbean, and since then, recovery has been his sole focus.

In a recent conversation with 7Cricket’s panel featuring Ricky Ponting, Aaron Finch, and Cummins himself, the Australian captain opened up about his improved condition and the timeline of his comeback.

“Probably on track, if not better than I would have thought a month ago,” Pat Cummins shared. “A lot can go wrong when you go from nothing to building up again, but everything has felt great so far.” Cummins revealed he has been pleasantly surprised by how smoothly the process has gone. “I’ll do more work this week, then take a couple of days off. So far, everything’s been going really well.”

🗣️ “On track, if not probably better than I would have thought a month or so ago.”

The latest update on Pat Cummins’ recovery from the man himself… pic.twitter.com/JDeJuo3UYo

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 21, 2025

Giving more insight, he explained that his recovery is being managed in three-day cycles. “I’ve been bowling up to 10 overs and then taking two to four rest days so the body and the bone can recover before going again. You tick that box and move to the next session.” When asked about the possibility of returning in Brisbane, Cummins remained cautiously optimistic. “Brisbane is about two weeks away. I have a few more sessions. We’ll see if that’s a chance.”

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood—Australia’s standout bowler in recent white-ball series—has also been ruled out of both the Perth and Brisbane Tests. A hamstring injury sustained while preparing with New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield has further delayed his comeback, leaving Australia thin on experience.

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This scenario could push Cummins toward an earlier-than-planned return, especially with Mitchell Starc needing support after Scott Boland struggled to make an impact in Perth.

Day 1 ended with Australia battling hard after England mounted a spirited fightback with the ball. Alex Carey and Starc chipped in with vital lower-order runs. Still, six Australian batters were already back in the pavilion, undone by the pace and bounce generated by Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and the strategic brilliance of Ben Stokes. Australia now looks toward Brisbane—hoping their captain is not far behind.