Pat Cummins’ availability for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka remains uncertain, with the Australian pacer still working his way back from a back stress injury.
Cummins missed the opening two Ashes Tests before returning to Adelaide, where he took six wickets and played a key role in sealing the urn for Australia with a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
However, his participation in the T20 World Cup 2026, slated to get underway on February 7, is yet to be confirmed.
After the Adelaide Test win, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the situation remains unclear.
"Looking forward to the World Cup, whether he will be there or not, I can't really say. It's quite grey at the moment. We're hopeful," McDonald told reporters.
Cummins' appearance in the third Ashes Test was always planned as a one-off. While McDonald revealed the fast bowler had come through the match unscathed, he would not feature again in the series.
"He's pulled up fine. He won't play any part in the rest of the series and that was a discussion we had a long time out around his return," McDonald said.
Australia were wary that extending his workload could lead to long-term fitness issues. "We were taking on some risk, and people who understand that rebuild would know the risk involved," McDonald stated. "We've now won the series and that was the goal."
Having clinched the Ashes urn, Australia have chosen caution over short-term gains. "So, to put him at further risk and jeopardise him long-term is not something we want to do, and Pat's really comfortable with that," McDonald added.
The focus, he said, remains on not rushing Cummins back, especially with the fast-approaching global tournament.
Australia will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on February 11 against Ireland in Colombo. While Cummins captains Australia in Tests and ODIs, the T20I side is led by Mitchell Marsh.
McDonald explained how Cummins' successful return in Adelaide was the result of meticulous planning. "If he'd had any setback in the build, we would have shut him down straight away. Everything went smoothly, and full credit goes to him and the medical team," he said.
The squad for T20 World Cup squad will be announced soon, and McDonald confirmed further medical assessments will shape the final call.
"There'll be another assessment," he said. "I'm assuming he'll have a scan at some point and we'll gather more information about where his back is at heading into the World Cup. Whether he'll be there or not, I can't really say."
