Australia captain Pat Cummins has completed a full bowling session at training just four days before the start of the Ashes, raising hopes he could feature in the series despite being ruled out of the first Test with a back injury.
Cummins bowled for almost an hour on Monday at Perth Stadium in hot conditions, training alongside his Australia teammates who arrived in Perth on Sunday to begin preparations for the series opener against England.
After the session, Cummins gave a fist pump to his teammates and spent time speaking to South Australia quick Brendan Doggett, who is expected to make his Test debut in the first Test alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
The first Test begins on Friday, November 21, in Perth. Cummins was ruled out due to a back stress injury discovered after the 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies in July, but his return date remains unknown.
Having a week off before the second Test at the Gabba, which is a day-night Test historically less strenuous on bowlers, could aid Cummins' recovery. However, Cummins has previously conceded he is unlikely to play out the rest of the summer unchanged once fit.
