Plenty of life left in old legs: Hazlewood defends ageing attack as Cummins prepares for Brisbane

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If you wanted proof injured Australia captain Pat Cummins is on track for a return for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, you only had to witness the scenes at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday morning.

Cummins, who will miss the opening Test in Perth from November 21, was showing no signs of discomfort in his back as he steamed in and bowled a decent spell at NSW training.

Stand-in Australian skipper Steve Smith at one stage walked over, tossed Cummins a pink ball – the colour of choice for the day-night Test that will be played in Brisbane – before he broke into laughter.

England can only hope they win the first match before returning to the east coast, knowing what awaits them.

As Cummins looked the goods, his fellow members of Australia’s ‘Dad’s Army’ bowling attack, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, looked every bit of 34, 37 and 35 respectively as they took a little longer than their NSW teammates to stretch before training.

Veterans (back-front) Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc warm up at NSW Sheffield Shield training at the SCG.

English media have had a field day at the expense of the ageing Australian team that was picked on Wednesday, with only one member of the 15-man squad aged less than 30.

Hazlewood, Lyon and Starc, who have collected a 1259 Test wickets between them, will tune up for the Ashes with a Sheffield Shield game for the Blues, which starts on Monday against Victoria – and their 36-year-old quick Scott Boland.

When asked how he felt about the attack being dubbed “old”, Hazlewood preferred to use the word “experienced”.

“I feel in the best shape I’ve been in a long time,” Hazlewood said.

“I think the experience, not just red-ball cricket, but through all the formats, you put all the pieces together, you’ve been in so many situations out in the middle, [it means] you’ve learned a lot over the years, especially as a group.

NSW and Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood adresses the media on Saturday.

“We bounce off each other out there, we know each other’s games so well, so we can help each other out straight away, and there’s not that 20- or 30-minute delay for someone else to intervene.

“We can pull each other from time to time if the rhythm isn’t quite there, or the ball isn’t coming out as well as we want. We bounce off each other.

“There will come a time [we all move on] no doubt, but I don’t think it’s yet.”

If all things go to plan and there are no major injuries, there is nothing to suggest the same bowling attack won’t be back to haunt England on their own patch in 2027.

The immediate mission is beating the old enemy this summer, which Hazlewood is confident Australia can do again.

While an average of 50 used to be a pass mark for batsmen during any series, Hazlewood said the nature of the wickets in Australia meant 35 was the new benchmark, not that he hoped Joe Root and the fellow Englishmen would come close to that mark.

As Cummins bowled less than 50m away, Hazlewood said it was on all his fit teammates to stand up in Perth and take on a bit more ownership.