Australia coach Andrew McDonald insists he is still optimistic Pat Cummins will play the first Ashes Test, despite the captain facing a narrow timeline on his return.

Cummins hasn’t bowled since Australia’s tour of the West Indies in July, with scans last week showing a stress injury in his back has not yet healed.

There were signs of some improvement with the 32-year-old now back running, but still some way off being cleared to return to play.

Officials believe they could know by next week whether Cummins will play at Optus Stadium, but insist it is far too early to know his availability for the summer.

Ideally, Cummins would likely need at least four weeks of bowling to be declared match ready, with the first Test in Perth now six weeks away and Scott Boland the likely man to replace

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