Australia coach hopeful of Cummins return in Brisbane

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful skipper Pat Cummins will be able to play in the second Ashes Test and thinks it highly unlikely that quick Josh Hazlewood will miss the whole series.

- 

Paceman Cummins on Saturday rated himself a “half chance" to play the day-nighter against England in Brisbane from Dec.4 but McDonald was a little more positive than that when he spoke to reporters on Monday in Perth.

The coach said the 32-year-old had been scheduled to turn his arm in the nets on day four of the Perth test on Monday but Australia’s stunning victory inside two days had forced him to put those plans back by a day.

“That hasn't eventuated the way that we would have liked for Patty,” McDonald said.

“Once we see him there again, we'll be able to then join the dots as to what (a return) potentially looks like. It will be a genuine discussion leading into this test match and that may be one that eventuates late for us.

“A little bit to work through but it’s nearing completion, which is really, really positive.”