Pat Cummins pictured training with New South Wales amid recovery from back injury

Cummins is still yet to bowl and the first Test in Perth is exactly 30 days away, but the skipper is refusing to give up on a mid-series return from a lower back stress injury.

The clock is ticking on Cummins needing to start getting his bowling loads up before time runs out, but the big fast bowler is at least hitting all his targets on the running track.

Cummins was put through his paces by NSW strength and conditioning coach Dean McNamara at Cricket NSW headquarters at Silverwater on Wednesday morning, in steamy conditions.

Last week, Cummins spoke to fans at a Rebel and New Balance promotion at Bondi Westfields and raised optimism about his chances of returning.

“Yeah hopefully. I’m feeling good. I’ve been doing lots of running these last few weeks,” Cummins said on stage with MC and respected Fox Sports presenter, Jim Callinan.

“I’m building back up. Hopefully I’ll start bowing in the next week or two and then build up for the summer.

“I’ve still got a bit of time. It’s been a bit of an annoying injury. It’s quite slow but I’m feeling pretty good.”

It’s understood Cummins has been really pushing himself on the running track and leaving no stone unturned in terms of what he is allowed to do at this stage of his rehabilitation.

Ultimately Cummins and Australian medical staff will need to be comfortable there is no risk of further back injury by returning to full bowling and match play during the Ashes.

But all the groundwork is being laid and Australia is confident Cummins won’t need a long build-up to be ready for a Test.

Cummins himself has estimated that at being between four and six weeks of proper bowling in the nets.