Pat Cummins is recovering from an injury. (AP Photo)

Australia’s injured captain Pat Cummins offered a cautiously optimistic update on his fitness on Saturday, saying he considered himself “half a chance" to return for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane in two weeks. The 32-year-old fast bowler has been sidelined since sustaining a lower-back injury during the West Indies series four months ago, but encouraging progress in recent weeks has boosted hopes of an early comeback.

Cummins has been travelling with the squad in Perth during the first Ashes Test, where Steve Smith has taken over the captaincy in his absence. While he has yet to return to competitive cricket, he has been steadily increasing his workload.

In addition to his bowling duties, Cummins is also eyeing a return to leaders

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