Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are showing positive signs of recovery from their injuries, which is excellent news for Australia before the Ashes Test. Hazlewood, who sat out the first Test in Perth with a hamstring problem, is back practicing at Cricket Central in Sydney. He’s been concentrating on bowling with the red ball. Although he probably won’t be ready for the day-night Test at the Gabba, he’s aiming to play in Adelaide. Head coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful that Hazlewood will play a role in the series, noting that his rehab is going well and the team anticipates he’ll be ready sometime during the Ashes.
Pat Cummins is also working on his fitness at the exact location, practicing with the pink ball as he considers a possible comeback for the Brisbane Test. After recovering from a back injury, Cummins showed his speed and strength while training, which made his team feel hopeful. The selectors are being careful and want to be sure the captain can manage a five-day Test, since the previous games in the series ended fast. McDonald said that Cummins is almost done with his recovery, but that it’s important not to push him too hard and to make sure his muscles are strong again before he plays.
Australia’s Ashes schedule gives them a break at the start, with 11 days between the first two Tests after the quick end in Perth. But after Adelaide, the bowlers will be under more strain, with just four days between the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney. This shows that having extra players will be very important later in the series. As the pink-ball Test at the Gabba gets closer, excitement is growing because the conditions should help fast bowlers again. Recent Sheffield Shield games have shown how hard night sessions can be, like a Queensland–Victoria game where ten wickets fell under the lights, which proves how tough pink-ball cricket can be for batters.
In the Shield game, Xavier Bartlett from Queensland had a great showing. He took four wickets for 35 runs in the second innings and scored 72 runs, his best score ever. People are talking about him possibly playing in the Ashes series, but with Cummins and Hazlewood likely coming back, he might have to wait. Michael Neser, who was on standby in Perth, is still a good choice for the Gabba Test, mainly because he does well with the pink ball and Brisbane is his home. Jhye Richardson is another bowler who might get a chance later in the series. He’s coming back from shoulder surgery and has been getting better. He bowled 20 overs for the CA XI against the England Lions and practiced with the Test team in Perth. Richardson said he’s been improving steadily and that his recent games have helped him get ready for longer matches.
Hazlewood and Cummins are recovering well, and Australia has a lot of good fast bowlers, so the team should be ready for the Ashes. Getting their best bowlers back will really make the attack stronger, and as the series gets busier, having more bowling options could be key to keeping Australia ahead.