Pat Cummins: Australia captain ‘realistically’ aiming to be fit for second Ashes Test, says Nathan Lyon

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon believes captain Pat Cummins will struggle to be fit for the Ashes opener in Perth but could “realistically” return for the second Test in Brisbane.

Cummins, 32, is recovering from a back injury that had threatened to rule him out of the highly anticipated series against England.

Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey expects the fast bowler to play a “major part” in the five-match contest but Lyon thinks the first Test, which starts on 21 November, will come too soon.

“Perth might be pretty difficult, if I’m being honest,” he told ABC Sport.

“But realistically, I think there’s still a big goal to potentially play Brisbane [or] Adelaide.”

Should he miss the first Test, Cummins would have another 13 days to prove his fitness before the day-night Test in Brisbane on 4 December and a further 13 beyond that until the Adelaide Test starts on 17 December.