‘His body’s ready to go’: Pat Cummins set to make Test return as selectors face massive Ashes call on veteran opener
Pat Cummins is set to toss the coin for Australia next week in Adelaide, but selectors face some brutal calls as the team looks to wrap up the series.
Pat Cummins is set to make his return in Adelaide next week, with the Australian skipper named in the squad for the third Ashes Test alongside veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who is also looking to return from injury.
Australia has already established a 2-0 series lead and should welcome back one of the best fast bowlers in the world, with Cummins sidelined since July with a back injury.
Cummins was very close to playing in Brisbane but watched on instead as Steve Smith led the side to another emphatic victory at the Gabba.
There are no surprises in the 15-man squad, with veteran quick Josh Hazlewood (achilles soreness) to miss the remainder of the series.
“We feel as though he’ll be as best prepared as can be,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said on Tuesday.
“He was well ahead of where we thought he’d be at and it did create a real live conversation for (Cummins playing in) Brisbane.
“It was debated a lot leading into that Test match. With that in mind, us seeing him further advanced, we feel he’ll be really well-placed for the challenges of Adelaide albeit (it’s still) a long way off.
“We feel as though the simulation in the nets has got him skill-ready. His body’s ready to go. Barring anything else happening in the next week, I’d be expecting Pat to be tossing the coin and putting the blazer on.”
Nathan Lyon is also expected to be named next week, which means only one of Scott Boland, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett will likely play in Adelaide.
Selectors will also have to weigh up whether to stay loyal to the batting unit that got the job done in Brisbane, or to bring back Khawaja who missed the Test through injury.
Travis Head has done a wonderful job at the top of the order where he blasted a majestic century in Perth, but he could slide down the order if selectors opt for Khawaja to come in for Josh Inglis.
“‘Uz’ (Khawaja) should be fit and available, and then we will work out our batting order based on the surface and work out our bowling selections based on the surface and the opponents that we think that they may present to us,” McDonald said.
“The assumption is that (Khawaja) can only open as well. He does have flexibility.
“We like to think that all our batters have the flexibility to be able to perform anywhere in that order.”
Jhye Richardson will join the Australian squad in Adelaide as he builds up his bid to return to Test level.
Richardson underwent shoulder surgery in January and has made his way back through Australian A matches.
He bowled brilliantly against the English Lions last week, earning high praise from fellow bowler Fergus O’Neill.
“I would like to have half of Jhye Richardson’s skill, I learned that playing with him,” O’Neill said.
Australia squad for third Test: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
