England’s Harry Brook isn’t letting Pat Cummins’ injury cloud his view of the upcoming Ashes. The young batter says Australia remain a dangerous side even if their captain and strike bowler misses the series opener in Perth.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald admitted on Friday that Cummins is “running out of time” to recover for the first Test. The 32-year-old hasn’t been ruled out completely, but McDonald said he would likely need to start bowling at least four weeks before the match to be ready.
If Cummins does sit out, it would be a major blow for Australia. The fast bowler has been a key figure in every Ashes campaign since his debut in 2017-18, and Australia haven’t lost the urn since his arrival.
“He’s an amazing bowler — fast, skillful, and consistent,” Harry Brook said during the Professional Cricketers’ Association Awards. “If he’s out for the first game, that could work in our favor. But Australia have plenty of quality quicks. When they’re fired up, they can tear through any lineup. We can’t afford to take them lightly.”
Harry Brook, now serving as England’s vice-captain after replacing Ollie Pope, also backed Ben Stokes to play all five Tests despite the all-rounder’s shoulder issue.
“Everyone knows what Ben’s like — he just gets on with it,” Brook added. “That’s the spirit of this team. Even if someone’s carrying a niggle, we keep pushing through, and Ben leads that by example.”
The 2025-26 Ashes will begin in Perth on November 21, followed by a day-night Test in Brisbane, a third match in Adelaide, and the traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
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