Josh Hazlewood returns to training as Pat Cummins ramps up pink-ball preparations

Australia have been given a boost on Tuesday, with star bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins both spotted bowling at NSW training.

Both injured quicks were going through their paces at Cricket Central in a bid to return to the field during the Ashes series

Cummins is pushing to be back on deck for Brisbane and was spotted practicing with a pink ball - perhaps the best indication he will play at the Gabba.

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The skipper missed the first Test due to a back injury and said he was "half a chance" of featuring against England on December 4 as he ramps up his loads.

But perhaps the big surprise was seeing his long-time partner Hazlewood in action.

The 34-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in a Sheffield Shield fixture right before the series opener, ruling him out of playing in Perth.

While initial scans cleared Hazlewood of serious damage, follow-up imaging revealed a hamstring strain and there were doubts over whether he would play in the Ashes at all.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald quashed those fears on Monday in his press conference and Hazlewood already returning to bowling is a positive sign.

"I don't think he's out for the whole series," McDonald said.

"I don't know where that speculation has begun, but he's working through the first week of his rehab. Once he gets further down the track and we start to have some sort of rough timelines, then we'll be in a position to communicate that."

In their absence, Mitchell Starc stood up and took 10 wickets for the match, before Travis Head blasted an all-time electric century to give the Aussies an early series lead.