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"Whatever It Takes": Pat Cummins Mulling Aggressive Rehab To Lead Australia In Ashes 2025

Akshita Patel

Injured Pat Cummins adamant on playing Ashes 2025 [Source: @FoxCricket/X.com]Injured Pat Cummins adamant on playing Ashes 2025 [Source: @FoxCricket/X.com]

Pat Cummins, Australia's Test captain, is adamant on playing in the Ashes series against England, even if it means jeopardising his recovery. The star pacer is currently dealing with a lower-back injury that surfaced after a heavy bowling workload in the World Test Championship final earlier this year. 

Cummins revealed that the injury likely came from the sharp rise in his bowling load during the WTC final at Lord’s, where he bowled over 35 overs in just four days, two-thirds of what he bowled in the entire 10-week IPL season. 

He later bowled another 49 overs in two Tests against the West Indies before scans showed a flare-up in his back.

Pat Cummins Committed To Ashes Despite Improper Fitness

Despite being ruled out of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India due to a lower-back injury, Australian captain Pat Cummins is not ready to give up on the Ashes dream just yet.

Talking to reporters and Cricket.com.au, Cummins admitted that while the injury is not as serious as a stress fracture, it still needs careful management. He is willing to adapt an aggressive rehabilitation plan just to be fit for the Ashes.

"I'm never going to go into a Test match unless you think you can finish the Test match. But when you're 18 or 19, you're like, 'Let's make sure this is the perfect rehab, whether it takes an extra six months'. Whereas, I'm happy to be a bit like, 'Well, it's an Ashes series, whatever it takes to play it. Then, say, at the end, if you're still not 100 per cent and you need to then have a bit of a break next year … there's not another Ashes series," he said.

The decision on whether Cummins plays could also depend on the fitness of fellow fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland. Selectors may take a cautious approach, but Cummins is clear that missing the Ashes would be devastating.

"Probably to some degree it's (a question of) who's fit? Who do we think is around? If we've got fast bowlers who are bowling well and absolutely firing on all cylinders, then maybe that's a factor as well. It's (nearly) 12 weeks until the first Test, it feels a long way away, so we've got plenty of time," he added.

Cummins Escape Stress Fracture

Fortunately for Australia, scans showed no stress fracture, an injury that previously kept Pat Cummins out for long spells in his early career.  With nearly 12 weeks left before the first Test, the skipper is optimistic about his recovery.

"It's similar (to previous injuries). But I've been really lucky, the last seven or eight years I haven't really had much. In 2018 I had a full-blown stress fracture, which kept me out for a full off-season. But I've had a really good run as far as fast bowling goes and have been well looked after. It feels worlds away (from those more serious injuries). I've bowled a lot over the last few years, so something was bound to happen at some point. But hopefully I get this right and don't miss too much cricket."

For now, Cummins will stick to light training, avoid bowling, and undergo regular medical reassessments. But one thing is certain: he’s willing to push his limits to be ready for one of cricket’s biggest battles.