Cummins may play at the Gabba as Australia waits to name their team
Cummins may play at the Gabba as Australia waits to name their team
Ashes 2nd Test 2025: Pat Cummins might make a surprise return to Australia’s team for the second Test against England at the Gabba. The selectors will decide on Wednesday afternoon after checking the pitch again.
Stand-in captain Steven Smith did not confirm the final team in his press conference, saying the decision would come later. This means Cummins could return as captain, and Australia might even leave out their only specialist spinner, Nathan Lyon, for another day-night Test.
Australia also need to replace injured opener Usman Khawaja. Josh Inglis is the frontrunner to join the middle order ahead of Beau Webster, with Travis Head likely moving up to open. But Smith said nothing is certain yet.
“A lot of options are on the table,” Smith explained. “We’ll see how the pitch looks and then decide the XI.”
Cummins’ comeback would be unexpected since he wasn’t named in the 14-man squad last Friday. But he was never fully ruled out because he has been bowling well in practice after recovering from a back injury.
“He looks good in the nets,” Smith said. “Matches are tougher, of course, but he’s tracking nicely. He knows his body well, so we’ll wait and see.”
If Cummins plays, he could replace Brendan Doggett. But since he hasn’t played since July, the medical staff might prefer an all-pace attack to reduce his workload. That would mean Lyon could be left out again, especially in a pink-ball Test.
Lyon has often been sidelined in day-night matches. He bowled only one over in Adelaide against India last year, none in Hobart during the 2022 Ashes, and just two overs in the first Test in Perth last week. He did bowl 50 overs in the Gabba’s last day-night Test in 2024, but Smith said his spot isn’t guaranteed.
“We’ll look at the surface and decide,” Smith said. “Nathan has done well here before, he’s a quality bowler, but we’ll weigh up the options.”
The Gabba pitch looks very green and soft at the moment. With warm, dry weather expected for the first three days, Smith said the surface will change once the sun bakes it.
“It’s still grassy and a bit soft,” Smith noted. “The curator will trim it, so it might look different in a few hours.”