Australian bowler Pat Cummins (right) reacts with Travis Head after dismissing Indian batsman Rohit Sharma for 6 runs on day two of the Second Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Saturday, December 7, 2024. Photo: Photosport / Dave Hunt
Australia are confident that captain Pat Cummins will play a significant part in the Ashes series, head selector George Bailey said, as questions remain over the paceman's fitness for the opening test in Perth.
Cummins is recovering from a back stress injury and has yet to resume bowling, leaving him racing against time to be fit for the opener, which begins on November 21. The 32-year-old admitted on Monday that he is unlikely to feature in the opener and remains uncertain for the second test in Brisbane.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald had previously said Cummins would need to start bowling at least four weeks before the Perth test to avoid risking further injury.
"It's progressing. He's building up. He's optimistic about it," Bailey told reporters on Saturday. "I think actually the more he's done over the last few days, the more optimistic he's become but I categorically don't know if he's bowled a ball.
"We know time is getting short and there's permutations around that, not just around the back, but other factors as well. It's positive. (We are) really confident that he's going to play a major part.
"Hopefully it's the first test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
In another setback for Australia, all-rounder Cameron Green was ruled out of the One-Day International series against India due to "low-grade side soreness" sustained in training.
Australia added Green would likely return to play in Shield cricket, while Bailey eased concerns about a serious injury to the 26-year-old.
"It is minor and it's conservative, and I think this decision probably ensures that we do have enough time to make sure," Bailey said.
"We put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder. So for the sake of, he was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway."
Australia storm past India in opening ODI
Mitchell Marsh. Photo: photosport
Meanwhile, Australia's stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh continued his fine run of form, scoring 46 not out and leading his side to a seven-wicket triumph over India in the weather-affected first ODI in Perth.
India limped to 136-9 from 26 overs, interrupted four times by rain, setting Australia a revised target of 131 which the hosts reached in 21.1 overs.
The sea of blue in the 42,423-strong crowd did not have to wait long to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after India were put into bat.
Having retired from the game's other formats with an eye on the 2027 World Cup, the former captains made their return to national duty for the first time since winning the Champions Trophy in March.
Neither looked convincing against Australia's pace bowlers, with Rohit edging Josh Hazlewood to second slip on eight and Kohli cutting Mitchell Starc to a diving Cooper Connolly at backward point for a duck.
"All of their batters are world class and legends of the game," said spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who picked up 2-26. "In one-day cricket, especially, to get wickets up front makes a massive difference."
New one-day skipper Shubman Gill (10) tickled seamer Nathan Ellis to wicketkeeper Josh Philippe, leaving India reeling at 37-3 when light drizzle halted play for two hours.
The crowd applauded sarcastically when the covers were removed, then in earnest when Shreyas Iyer (11) slashed Hazlewood to the fence. The bowler got his revenge in his next over, however, as Philippe took another leg-side catch.
Kuhnemann and medium-pacer Mitch Owen kept up the pressure and halted any momentum Axar Patel (31) and KL Rahul (38) generated, although Nitish Kumar Reddy brought some excitement with a rapid 19 off 11 balls.
Deputising for Pat Cummins, whose Ashes hopes remain uncertain due to a back injury, man-of-the-match Marsh kick-started Australia's reply by bludgeoning three sixes, carrying over impressive form against South Africa and New Zealand.
Philippe, playing his first ODI since 2021 due to the absence of Josh Inglis and Alex Carey, supported his skipper with an aggressive 37 before holing out to Arshdeep Singh in the deep.
Matt Renshaw helped his team home with 21 not out, while Arshdeep, Axar and Washington Sundar claimed one wicket apiece.
"We knew we didn't have that many runs, but we just wanted to express ourselves," Arshdeep said.
The series moves to Adelaide on Thursday before concluding in Sydney on Saturday.
- Reuters
