Australia's Cummins, Inglis in frame for second Ashes test

Dec 3 - Australia captain Steve Smith has declined to rule out a surprise return for fast bowler Pat Cummins in the second Ashes test against England, while backing middle-order option Josh Inglis to make a difference if picked by selectors.

Regular skipper Cummins missed Australia's eight-wicket win in the Perth opener while recovering from a back injury and was omitted from the second test squad named last week.

Smith, however, said Cummins appeared in good condition at training and may be part of selectors' conversations for the pink-ball match.

"He looks pretty good to me, the way he's bowled in the nets," the master batter told reporters in Brisbane, where the second test will begin at the Gabba on Thursday.

"Obviously the game's a different intensity, for sure, but he's tracking really nicely, he knows his body well and yeah, we'll wait and see."

Smith also declined to confirm Nathan Lyon's place in the XI, though selectors could opt to retain the specialist spinner and drop one-test fast bowler Brendan Doggett to make room for Cummins.   

With Usman Khawaja ruled out with a back injury, Travis Head is expected to open the batting in the day-night test following his match-winning 123 from 83 balls in Perth as a makeshift opener in the second innings.

Smith said 85-test Khawaja, who turns 39 this month, was a "quality player" but declined to back his return to the test XI.

"It's not for me to answer whether I think that's going to happen or not," said Smith. 

Local media reported England-born wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will take Head's spot in the middle order for his first test on home soil but Smith said the team needed to check out the Gabba pitch at training later in the day.

Cricket Australia confirmed later on Wednesday the team would not announce their XI until the toss on match-day.

Inglis scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka in Galle in January, and would line up for his fourth test against Ben Stokes's England.

"Yeah, he's obviously a pretty attacking batsman, he did really well on his debut in Sri Lanka," Smith said of Inglis.

"He's been in really good form .... He plays fast bowling really nicely so if he gets an opportunity I'm sure he'll do really well for us."

Australia have won 12 out of the 13 pink-ball tests they have hosted, with their sole loss coming against West Indies at the Gabba in January, 2024. Day-night tests use a pink ball instead of the usual red one because it is easier to see under the lights.

Batting can be hard during the twilight and evening sessions when the pink ball tends to swing the most but Smith said Brisbane's relatively hard wicket compared to the spongier surface at Adelaide Oval, the usual venue for day-night tests, could offer something for batters.

"At times (the ball) can get a little bit soft and you can see guys batting comfortably, I suppose, at stages," said Smith.

"That's one thing we have to weigh up going into this game and see how it plays out."

Australia lead the five-test series 1-0 following their win in two days in Perth. REUTERS