Australia skipper Pat Cummins feared missing the entire Ashes series after being cut down by a back injury, but reckons he's now "half a chance" of returning for the second Test at the Gabba.
Cummins hasn't pla=-[5ed since the 3-0 Test series sweep of the West Indies in July, with a stress injury in his lower back ruling him out of the Ashes opener in Perth.
But the 32-year-old is back bowling in the nets and is pushing hard to return for the second Test at the Gabba, starting December 4.
"It's feeling good," Cummins told Kayo when asked about his back.
"I had a couple of good sessions in Perth this week, so having a big day where I'd bowl around 10 overs then a couple of quieter days and then going again.
"It's on track and pulling up pretty well. I'm half a chance for the next game.
"I'll have a couple more bowls and then there could be potentially up to two weeks before the next (Test).
"I'm pretty hopeful and it's probably better than it was a few weeks ago."
Cummins' build-up has been a slow and meticulous one.
And given the delicate nature of back injuries, Cummins held fears at one point that he wouldn't be able to feature in the Ashes at all.
"There were probably times where I thought I wasn't going to play a game," Cummins said.
"It's been tough. You just want to be in amongst it.
"The whole cricketing world is watching, and you just wish you were out there."
Cummins said a final decision on his availability for the Gabba Test will be made in consultation with Australia's physios, doctors and selectors.
But if his net performances in Perth in recent days are anything to go by, Cummins is a solid chance of being passed fit to play.
"There's a few things at play, and obviously I'm not coming off a lot of cricket, so you want to get a bit of a feel, have a look at the wicket and work out how you think the game may pan out and make a decision," Cummins said.
"If I don't want to play, then no one is ever going to put me in that position."
Brendan Doggett, who returned figures of 2-27 and 3-51 in his debut in Perth, would likely to be the bowler to miss out if Cummins is cleared to play.
