Pat Cummins may return to lead Australia in the second Ashes Test against England at Gabba, hinted stand-in captain Steve Smith.

Addressing the media on the eve of the match, Smith said the hosts had not yet finalised their playing XI for the pink-ball fixture in Brisbane, slated to start on Thursday (December 4).

“A heap of things are on the table. We’ll wait and see what the wicket is like and from there we’ll determine a playing XI," Smith told reporters.

Cummins, who missed the Ashes opener at Perth while recovering from a back stress injury, has rejoined the Australian squad in Brisbane but was not included in the 14-player squad.

“He’s looked pretty good to me, the way he’s bowled in the nets. Obviously, games are different intensities, but he’s tracking really nicely; he knows his body well, but we’ll wait and see. He’s close; he’s done everything really well the last little bit," Smith said about Cummins.

Smith also discussed the situation on SEN’s The New Ball, citing that the coach, Cummins, the selectors, and himself wanted to assess the pitch conditions before taking a final call.

“The coach and Patty and the selectors and all of us want to have a look at this surface and see what it looks like when they cut the grass off. We haven’t ruled him out; he has certainly done really well in the last couple of weeks. He’s bowled beautifully in the nets and is pretty close," Smith stated.

He added, “I thought he was pretty good in Perth as well. Obviously, that practice wicket in Perth was fast and bouncy and any fast bowler would want to bowl with the new ball on that. In the nets out here, he bowled really nicely. He’s tracking along well; I think he’s pulling up well from his bowls. His back is feeling good, so we’ll wait and see."

With Usman Khawaja ruled out of the second Test, Josh Inglis has emerged a leading contender to bat in the middle order, while Travis Head might open.

Commenting on Inglis, Smith explained that selectors had not made a final decision yet. “It’s going to depend on how we match up. We will know later this afternoon once we see this wicket. He’s a pretty attacking batsman. Did pretty well in his debut in Sri Lanka and has been in pretty good form. He plays fast bowling really well, so if he gets his opportunity, I’m sure he’ll do really well for us,’ he said," Smith said.

(With inputs from Agencies)