Australia Face Late Call on Cummins for Brisbane Pink-Ball Ashes

Australia are keeping their plans very quiet ahead of the pink-ball Ashes Test in Brisbane. With only a day left before the match, the big question is whether Pat Cummins will play. He has not been officially named in the squad because he is still recovering from a back injury. However, his sharp bowling and long batting practice sessions in the nets this week have created strong speculation that he might still make a late return.

While the discussions around Pat Cummins continued to grow, stand-in captain Steve Smith spoke to the media but did little to reduce the mystery. Smith confirmed that Cummins would lead the side if he is fit enough. But he added that the team is considering several options and that nothing has been decided yet. “A whole heap of things are on the table… I can’t give you a great deal right now,” Smith said, making it clear that the final call will be made very close to match time.

Smith admitted that Cummins has looked impressive in training. “He looks pretty good to me with the way he bowled in the nets. Of course, matches are much more intense, but he is progressing well. He understands his body better than anyone else, so we will wait and see,” Smith added.

Another topic discussed before the Test was the possibility of a flexible batting order. This idea gained attention after Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald spoke about it, and Travis Head supported it further by calling batting positions “overrated” after his excellent knock while opening in Perth. But Smith gave a more balanced opinion. He agreed that in pink-ball cricket, situations can change quickly and teams sometimes adapt by using nightwatchmen or adjusting the order. However, he also believes that having a regular batting position helps players settle into their roles.

"I’m not sure I fully agree with those two on batting orders being overrated," Smith said. "It is good to stay in a familiar role and get comfortable with it. Of course, things can change in a match and flexibility can help, but having different batting spots for different innings might not be ideal. Most players like having one main role to focus on."

Smith also revealed an interesting personal update for the Gabba Test. He plans to use 'eye black' tape under his eyes to reduce the glare from the stadium lights, something he tested in training. To get the best advice, Smith contacted former West Indies great Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who famously used eye black during his career. “I messaged him to ask whether he preferred the chalk or the strips," Smith said.

Chanderpaul apparently told him that the strips help reduce glare by almost 65 percent. He also pointed out that Smith had been wearing them incorrectly. After following the correct method in practice, Smith said he noticed a clear improvement and confirmed that he would be wearing them during the match.

With questions still surrounding Cummins’ availability, the batting order debate, and Smith’s new eye-black experiment, Australia enter the pink-ball Test with both excitement and uncertainty. Fans will have to wait until the final moments to know the complete playing XI, but the buildup has already made this Ashes match even more interesting.