Australian Test captain Pat Cummins concedes this summer “might be a bit different” as he manages a lingering back issue, but insists his best-case scenario remains playing all five Ashes Tests.

Cummins was pressed on his fitness at a media event at Howell Oval in Penrith on Friday, where the federal government announced a $50 million investment in community sport that the Australian skipper helped facilitate.

On Wednesday, Australian head coach Andrew McDonald said Cummins would “partake” in the Ashes and play a “significant part”.

The first Ashes Test starts on November 21 in Perth.

“There are no hard and fast plans yet,” Cummins told reporters. “I’m still doing a bit of gym and keeping things kicking over, but with this kind of injury, it’s rest and then we’ll build back and kind o

See Full Page