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Pat Cummins has deepened the mystery and uncertainty around his fitness status for the start of the Ashes, admitting he can't be totally sure of recovering from a stress "hot spot" in his back in time for the Perth Test in November.
Additionally, Cummins revealed Monday's scan was the second one he had undergone since the West Indies tour in July, with this week's results indicating he still had some weeks of rest ahead of him before he can bowl again.
Speaking in Brisbane, Cummins sounded far less confident of his fitness for the Perth Test than selection chairman George Bailey had been just 24 hours before, when he more or less guaranteed that the captain would be fit for the start of the series.
"That would be devastating," Cummins said in Brisbane when asked if there was a possibility he would miss Perth. "We'll be doing everything we can to be right for that, [and] make a few decisions a little bit closer, but [I'm] confident we'll do the rehab right and give it a good crack.