Perth, Nov 24 (NationPress) Australia head coach Andrew McDonald remarked that skipper Pat Cummins appeared to be a player close to finishing his rehabilitation after delivering at full intensity in Perth. He also mentioned that a definitive decision regarding Cummins' participation in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane will be made at a later time.

The early conclusion of the session in Perth means that Cummins, who is recovering from a lower back stress issue, will have his next bowling practice on Tuesday rather than Monday. The Australian selectors plan to evaluate his readiness for a return shortly, but they will consider the timing meticulously.

If Cummins plays in Brisbane and the match extends for the entire five days, there will still be an eight-day interval before the third Test in Adelaide. "Once we observe him again, we will be able to connect the dots regarding what that could look like. I mentioned earlier that he would be up and bowling...and people will question why he isn't participating," McDonald explained.

"He looked like a player nearing the final stages of his rehabilitation. The intensity and ball speed were evident. There are many positive aspects, but now it's about developing resilience in the soft tissue and ensuring we do not place him in a risky situation by pushing him too hard."

"However, this will be a sincere discussion as we approach the Test match. It may be a decision that comes late for us. There are still a few things to work through, but it is approaching completion, which is very encouraging," McDonald informed reporters on Monday.

In the meantime, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has entered the initial week of his rehabilitation for a low-grade hamstring injury. McDonald refrained from providing a timeline for his return during the Ashes series. Hazlewood is anticipated to join the squad in Brisbane to continue his recovery.

"He is progressing through his first week of rehab. I don't believe we need to provide an update on that at this point. Once he advances further and we have some approximate timelines, we will be in a position to share that information," McDonald stated.

"I am confident he will be available at some point during the series. We must go through this early rehab phase to determine where he might fit into the series, but we expect him to participate in some capacity."

“I am certain he will be available during the series, and once again, we will not put our medical team in a situation where we identify a specific game, leading to speculation surrounding that,” McDonald added.