Mind Games Begin As Cummins Unsure Of Ashes Fitness Yet Seen Riding Time On Chainsaw At The Gootch Stampede Last Weekend

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Mind games ahead of this summer’s Ashes series have reached new heights after injured Australian captain Pat Cummins was seen riding the legendary bucking bull Chainsaw at the annual Gootchie Stampede last weekend.

The sighting comes less than a week after Cricket Australia confirmed Cummins was battling a lumbar stress injury that has ruled him out of the upcoming white-ball series and cast serious doubt over his place in the first Test in Perth.

However, footage from the Stampede appears to show the 32-year-old fast bowler holding his line beautifully for the full eight seconds atop the notoriously violent Brahman, before dismounting with a backflip to applause from the Bundaberg Rum tent.

Local rodeo caller Terry Goodwin described the effort as gutsy stuff from a bloke who reckons he can’t even bowl offies in the back lane.

“If you can handle Chainsaw, you can handle Zak Crawley,” said Goodwin.

“England should be quaking in their Reeboks.”

Physiotherapists were less impressed, with one team source privately describing the move as the exact opposite of rest and recovery.

“It is like testing a sprained ankle by jumping off the roof,” said one glorified masseuse.

Selectors are reportedly split on whether the ride was a show of toughness or just a bit of outer-metro stupidity.

Chainsaw’s current owner later confirmed the bull took it easy on him, citing the bull’s advanced age and love of Test cricket, noting that Cummins had good balance for a cricketer, though his hip rotation was a bit city.

At press time Cummins was said to be resting comfortably back in Sydney, though insiders suggest he has been eyeing off the Mount Isa Rodeo as part of his unconventional rehab program.

More to come.