Andrew McDonald to skip ODIs to host secret Ashes planning meeting with Cummins, Smith

Though Cummins has not yet been officially ruled out of the series opener in Perth, Smith revealed on Tuesday that the skipper was not yet back bowling, as the window for his Ashes involvement narrows, heightening the chances that Smith will captain Australia for much if not all of the Ashes.

While McDonald was in Perth for the first one-day international on Sunday, he has not travelled to Adelaide for the second match of the series, on Thursday.

Though McDonald will be in Sydney later in the week, he will also not be coaching for the third ODI at the SCG on Saturday.

Instead he has turned his attention to the Ashes, just a month away.

With Smith back training in Sydney ahead of his return to competitive cricket next week for NSW in the Sheffield Shield, McDonald has the chance to ramp up preparations for England with Sydney-based Cummins and Smith, who would lead the Aussies in the paceman’s likely absence at the start of the series.

Smith retired from ODI cricket earlier this year so is not with the Australian one-day squad.

Fielding coach Andre Borovec has steppeed up as head coach in McDonald’s absence, with James Franklin joining the coaching staff for the series.

McDonald will resume head coaching duties for the start of the Twenty20 series against India that begins in Canberra next Tuesday night.

The coach has occasionally missed white-ball series in the past, with CA managing the workloads of its support staff like it does with players.

Poised to be Australian captain for at least the first Test, Smith described Cummins as a “healer” and backed the captain to return to action against England with limited bowling under his belt.

However, the first Test in Perth kicks off on November 21, and Cummins and the Australian camp have said he’d need at least a month of bowling to be ready for a Test match.

Cummins’ return to running has gone smoothly and there is hope that he will make a return to light bowling soon, however, it’s looking like Test three in Adelaide is the most realistic return date for the champion fast bowler, if he returns at all.

Smith said he has swapped some notes with Cummins should he be officially called into captain the first Test – but warned not to write Cummins off.

However, Smith said in the interim, he will be captaining Australia his way and being authentic to his own unique style.

“I saw him out here the other day. He started his running and I was in here training as well. I think he obviously hasn’t started bowling yet, but he gets into things pretty quickly,” Smith said.

“He probably doesn’t need as much (bowling preparation) as Josh (Hazlewood) or Starcy (Mitchell Starc). Starcy said that the other day as well, I saw.

“Things can turn around pretty quickly so we’ll see where everything lands with him.

“He’s obviously got a few things to tick off and get into his bowling, but he was in good spirits and the team’s obviously better with him in it for sure.

“Hopefully he can get right and if he plays three Tests or five Tests or two Tests … as many as we can get out of him, it’s the best for the team.”

Scott Boland, who is set to carry a signifiant load given Cummins’ injury, said he had not spoken to his winged captain in recent days.

The Victorian did not rule out the prospect of him playing all five Tests this summer, noting the significant gaps between matches until the final two Tests.

Boland was at the MCG announcing the renewal of a partnership between the MCC Foundation and Cricket Australia to help fund various Indigenous cricket initiatives.