Josh Inglis set to replace Usman Khawaja for second Ashes Test, Cummins makes 11th hour bid

Australian captain Pat Cummins is on the brink of an extraordinary comeback for the Gabba Test - while selectors have made the call on who will replace the injured Usman Khawaja.

Pat Cummins is on the verge of a bombshell return to the Australian Test side with the star paceman being strongly considered to come from outside the squad to don the captain’s blazer at Thursday’s coin toss.

Josh Inglis is set to fill the void left by Travis Head in the Aussie middle order, but Australia was waiting until late in the piece to name an XI which could include Cummins, potentially at the expense of Nathan Lyon, for the Gabba pink-ball Test.

While Steve Smith fronted the traditional captain’s pre-match press conference on Wednesday in the notional guise as Aussie skipper, he could yet be usurped by regular leader Cummins despite the quick not being part of Australia’s squad for the match.

It would cap the ultimate game of ducks and drakes from the Aussies, who left the door ajar for Cummins to return from his back injury in this match even after not including him in the initial 14-man squad for the second Ashes Test.

Cummins, Smith, selection chair George Bailey and coach Andrew McDonald convened for a pitch inspection on match eve, with Cummins and McDonald embracing afterwards.

Pat Cummins (R) could be a stunning late inclusion for Australia for the second Test. Picture: Getty

McDonald had flagged more than a week ago that a decision on Cummins would likely be left until the 11th hour, while the superstar seamer has regularly bowled with the pink Kookaburra over the past fortnight, a sign that he has remained in consideration.

Cummins also batted against the pink ball under Gabba lights on Tuesday night.

Smith would not even go as far as confirming the inclusion of Inglis given that Head will remain at the top of the order alongside Jake Weatherald, but as revealed by this masthead - Inglis is set to be named in the XI.

The Aussies were set to wait for another look at a “still quite grassy” Brisbane pitch before locking in a team.

However asked whether he would still be captain for this match if Cummins’ push to play proved successful, Smith said normal order would instead likely be restored.

“I wouldn’t have thought so,” Smith said.

Smith added that Cummins’ quality was self-evident.

“He’s not a bad bowler, is he? His record probably speaks for itself. He’s a wonderful bowler. He’s going to bowl, good line and lengths, challenge the batting and, yeah, and obviously his leadership as well. So we’ll wait and see. But yeah, like I said, he’s close. He’s done everything really well the last little bit. And we’ll see after three o’clock, when we look at that wicket, whether he’s an option or not.”

Josh Inglis after scoring a century in Sri Lanka, where he made his Test debut.

Australia had a host of potential bowling configurations depending on conditions, with Smith unwilling to guarantee off-spinner Lyon would hold his spot in the XI, a possible omission that has loomed as a possibility for more than a week given Lyon’s minimal role in the Perth Test and the fact Australia left Lyon out from its last day-night Test.

“I’m not sure,” Smith said.

“We’ll look at the surface and we’ll sum things up from there. And I think here’s a place where Nathan’s done really well in the past. He’s a quality bowler. But you know, we’ll weigh up the options, and we’ll see how we go.”

The Brisbane clash will be Inglis’ fourth Test for Australia, but first at home.

The wicketkeeper-batter made a ton on debut at Galle earlier in the year before also playing in Barbados, filling in at No. 4 in the absence of the injured Smith.

“He’s obviously a pretty attacking batsman,” Smith said of of Inglis.

“He did really well on his debut in Sri Lanka. He’s been in really good form. So yeah, if he gets his opportunity, he plays fast bowling really nicely. So if he gets an opportunity, I’m sure he’ll do really well for us.”

Australia’s late selection shenanigans had a trickle-down effect, with selectors yet to confirm an Australia A squad for a game against the England Lions starting on Friday, given that a decision on the Test XI will shape how the second-string side presents at Allan Border Field.