Australia’s focus has shifted to Brisbane, following the early finish of the opening Ashes Test. Preparations for the day-night Gabba Test are underway, and the two senior pacers—Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins—were seen practising in Sydney. Their separate training routines suggest who will play in the next Test.
Hazelwood, practising with the red ball, is expected to miss the Gabba clash, aiming instead for the Adelaide Test. Coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that Hazelwood will return later in the series, but the exact timing depends on his rehabilitation progress.
Cummins, on the other hand, was seen with the pink ball, indicating a strong chance of featuring in the day-night Test. His net session displayed his usual pace and control, which has reassured team management. He will need to maintain and build his fitness to handle a full Test workload, but the outlook is positive.
The Gabba is generating extra excitement due to the pink-ball format. Night sessions in the current Sheffield Shield round have seen wickets tumble quickly, which could make the Test shorter than usual. Backup pacer Michael Neser is ready, with experience in two previous pink-ball Tests at the Gabba.
Xavier Bartlett is emerging as a promising option, taking four wickets and scoring a career-best 72 runs in the Sheffield Shield. Jhye Richardson is gradually recovering from injury, bowling 20 overs recently for Cricket Australia XI. He reports his shoulder is improving, and he is preparing for the rigours of four- to five-day cricket.
With Hazelwood and Cummins back, Australia’s pace battery will have renewed strength. The team management must decide the final XI for the Gabba, and fans are eagerly anticipating how Australia’s bowlers will perform under the lights. This Test could well set the tone for the rest of the Ashes series.
