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New Delhi: Australia Test skipper Pat Cummins has resumed bowling in nets in a bid to become fit for the second Ashes Test against England.
A lower-back injury ruled him out of the series opener in Perth that begins on November 21 but the seamer is keen to be available for the following match that will start in Brisbane two weeks later.
The 32-year-old used a short five-step run-up while bowling in training at Cricket New South Wales' training base on Tuesday under the eyes of their staff.
On Monday, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald had said Cummins would require "four-plus weeks" to take the field that realistically ruled him out of warm-up matches before the Gabba test.
"We're on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome," McDonald said.
"We will see how he pulls up and then we'll make decisions moving forward."
Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches at an average of 22.10, including 14 five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls.
Cricket Australia announced Steve Smith as skipper Australia for the Perth game, while seamer Scott Boland is widely expected to be Cummins' replacement,
It would be Smith's first match as skipper since February, when Australia won 2-0 in Sri Lanka. He has led the team in 40 Test matches.
The right-arm batter cracked a century in the Sheffield Shield, scoring 118 from 176 balls for New South Wales against Queensland.
Australia will defend the Ashes urn, after retained it with a 2-2 series draw in 2023 in England.
