McDonald provides update after Cummins ruled out of first Test

PL: Also, do not rule out a Test reappearance this summer from Mitch Marsh

Cummins out of first Test

Three things you need to know: (1) Pat Cummins is out of the first Test but will resume bowling this week, (2) Cam Green is bowling again, and (3) Sam Konstas will open the batting for NSW – not Victoria in this week’s Shield clash (insert embarrassed emoji).

Actually, make that four things you need to know: (4) we may see Mitch Marsh in Test colours again this summer.

Cummins was officially ruled out of the first Test on Monday morning. The Australian Test captain has been running at NSW’s Cricket Central in the last week, but to the best of our knowledge, has not bowled a ball.

Fitness staff had wanted to see him bowling at least a month out from the Ashes, and that mark passed over the weekend.

McDonald sounded upbeat about Cummins’ prospects when he spoke in Canberra on Monday, but there was no guarantee the captain would be fit for the second Test. There are, however, extended breaks between the first three Tests, which should allow him every opportunity to play in Brisbane, and if not, Adelaide.

“We’ve grappled with it for a little while. The nature of the injury is that you never know and you’re taking it day by day,” McDonald said.

“We’ve run out of time.

“We sort of flagged this a week or so ago that it’d take four (or more) weeks to get him up and running, but we’ve run out of time, unfortunately.

“We’re really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match. I suppose the next question is ‘what’s the timeframe and what it looks like for the second Test?’ but I’m not really going to be able to answer that, other than to say that he’ll be back bowling this week.

“That’s a huge step and that was the variable that we wanted to add in to get that information. We’re on the journey to that second Test match and we’re very hopeful that there’ll be a positive outcome.”

A minor side strain that saw Cam Green waylaid from the ODIs against India had thrown another unknown into Ashes preparation, but the West Australian all-rounder began bowling again over the weekend.