Revealing net sessions as injured quicks Pat Cummins and Mark Wood aim up
All eyes were on the bowling groups during Australia and England's net sessions over the past 24 hours, with two fast bowlers who have a big role to play in the Ashes series looking sharp am,id injury concerns.
Pat Cummins will be the biggest absence from the Australian side in the first Ashes Test after he was ruled out due to a back stress injury which he suffered in July.
There has been a cloud of doubt over if or when the Australian captain will feature in the series, but Cummins has seemingly squashed fears that he won't return.
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Cummins bowled for almost an hour during Australia's net session on Monday and was spotted giving his teammates fist bumps as he left training.
The 32-year-old spent time speaking with Brendan Doggett, who is widely expected to make his Test debut in the absence of Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, while in the nets.
Pat Cummins bowls in the nets. Getty
Cummins may not be able to return for Australia in time for the first Test, but rival speedster Mark Wood appears to be on track to give England a much needed boost.
Wood was placed under an injury cloud last week after he reported hamstring tightness during a warm-up game against the England Lions in Perth.
The 35-year-old was sent for scans and later cleared of any major concern, although the injury scare must be a concern given he has only recently recovered from a knee injury.
Wood did his best to allay fears by bowling rockets at his England teammates in the nets in Perth.
England's Mark Wood runs in to bowl during a nets session. PA Images via Getty Images
It was the first training session the team has had in the nets on Australian soil.
The last time Wood faced Australia in the Ashes was in the third Test in 2023, with his inclusion paving the way for a major momentum shift in the series.
Australia's top order struggled against Wood in that match, however, they did go on to retain the Ashes urn.
Even if Wood is not selected for the first Test, Tuesday's net session suggests that he is bound to play a significant role in the 2025 series.
