Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins must be looking forward to the new Ashes series starting in June, even though he’s nursing injury problems himself. At 32, Cummins already has a long track record of back issues that have caused him to miss eight months of action. He says his focus is now on preparing for the first Test in Perth on November 21. His desire to ensure he doesn’t miss this all-important encounter is clear.
It’s been a struggle like this with many back injury flare-ups for Cummins over the years. Specifically, these happened in the seasons of 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16. These injuries have made him miss three out of four Australian summers, interrupting the arc of his career and employment as a professional musician. In 2018, he experienced a re-injury of a chronic back issue. As punishment, he missed the Indian Premier League as well as an October tour against Zimbabwe. Happily for Evans, that was the last season he would suffer much in the way of injury.
Recent medical scans revealed a lumbar bone stress in Cummins’ back, prompting him to withdraw from Australia’s upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India. After surgery on a fractured heel, he is eager to get back on the field and putting his name in contention for the Ashes.
“I’m never going to go into a Test match unless I think I can finish the Test match,” Cummins stated, emphasizing the importance of being fully fit before taking the field. Whether on the field or off, he agrees the stakes couldn’t be higher heading into the next Ashes series. “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.’”
Cummins knows how important his willingness to take risks is at this crossroads of his career. He commented on the need for bold rehab plans to give him the best possibility of playing throughout the series. “You’re willing to take a few risks and be a little bit aggressive to try and play as many Tests as you can,” he explained.
Cameron Green has taken 91 wickets against England in only 19 Tests at an average of 24.10. His impact on the field will be huge for Australia’s hopes in the Ashes. He’s very conscious of the impact his health has on the team’s performance. He is committed to taking any and all steps necessary to help.
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