Cummins was seen training in Brisbane nets on Tuesday, fueling speculation about his inclusion. Cricket Australia has not ruled out his participation, confirming that the team’s Playing XI will only be revealed at the toss on December 4, later than initially expected.
Reasons for the delay
After the net session, Cummins was spotted discussing with head coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey, even sharing a brief hug with McDonald, signaling a positive outlook on his fitness. BBC Sport reports that the team is keeping all options open before finalizing the lineup.
Stand-in captain Steve Smith commented on Cummins’ condition, saying:
“He looks pretty good to me; he’s bowled in the nets. Obviously games are different in intensity, but he’s tracking nicely. He’s feeling good. He’s bowling nicely in the nets.”
Smith added that final decisions will depend on the pitch and conditions:
“A whole heap of things are on the table. We’ll wait and see what the wicket looks like later, and from there we’ll determine a playing XI.”
If selected, Cummins could replace frontline pacer Brendan Doggett, who made his Test debut in Perth. Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes confirmed that they are also waiting for updates from the hosts before announcing their own Playing XI.
The Gabba Test promises to be closely watched, with Cummins’ potential return adding a key twist to the Ashes contest.
