Injury cloud of Pat Cummins boosting England's hopes, say Harry Brook

Pat Cummins may be racing to beat the clock for the Ashes series but his absence could play into England's hands perfectly, Harry Brook says.

Cummins remains in doubt for the Ashes after it was reported it is "effectively impossible" for him to play in the first Test - which begins on November 21 in Perth - due to a stress injury in his lower back.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald is "optimistic" the 32-year-old will be fit for the series, although Cummins has yet to resume bowling training.

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A minimum of four weeks of training is likely the most ideal scenario for Cummins to build his loads enough to take aim at England's top order.

Yet if he were to be ruled out of the entire series, Brook believes it boosts England's chances of claiming the Ashes urn for the first time in a decade.

"Obviously he is an amazing bowler and has been for many years," Brook said at Professional Cricketers' Association awards ceremony.

"He bowls at high pace, with high skill. With him out of their side for the first game, from [the reports] we've seen, hopefully that plays into our hands."

Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will lead Australia's pace attack in the absence of Cummins, with Scott Boland likely to replace the injured star.

Boland's talent has not gone unnoticed by Brook, with the 36-year-old infamously claiming 6-7 in his Test debut during the 2021 Ashes series.

"They have a hell of a lot of good, quick bowlers out there," Brook added.

"They have guys who can come into the side and when their tails are up, they can plough through teams. We can't take anybody lightly."

The series will be one of Brook's biggest career tests to date as he looks to help England turnaround their troubling run of Test results.

England has lost 13 of their last 15 Tests in Australia, although Brook's ability with the bat has helped them significantly in recent overseas Tests.

But Brook has never played a Test match on Australian soil.

"I don't know what I'm stepping into," he said.

"I know it's a massive thing, but I'm still trying to get over that India series. That was the most intense series I've been part of. If the Ashes tops that, I will be a very happy man.

"I can't remember much about the 2023 Ashes, if I'm honest. It's a very similar group of players that we'll come up against: a very strong bowling attack and on home soil they'll present different challenges.

"I haven't had too much experience of the pitches out there, so I have to stay in the moment as much as possible and play what's in front of me."