Cummins back in the running

Ashes doubts... for Pat Cummins and (right) Marnus Lubuschagne

- By DAVID CHARLESWORTH

AUSTRALIA head coach Andrew McDonald has not given up hope of captain Pat Cummins being available for the start of a hotly-anticipated Ashes series next month.

Cummins returned to running this week as he recovers from lumbar bone stress in his lower back, which has sidelined the talismanic fast bowler since Australia's final Test in the West Indies in July.

Reports in Australia this week claimed Cummins will miss the curtain-raiser against England, starting in Perth on November 21, and his participation across the whole series is in doubt.

But McDonald took a more optimistic stance, even if he accepts Cummins is running out of time to prove his fitness for the series opener, with a decision likely to be made next week.

"A couple of weeks ago, did he think he was a chance (to play in Perth)? Potentially not, he was a little bit sore," McDonald told reporters.