Australia’s hopes of starting the upcoming Ashes series strongly have been dealt a major setback, with captain Pat Cummins expected to miss the opening Test in Perth due to a lingering back injury. The fast bowler, who has been sidelined since the 3-0 Test series victory over the West Indies in July, is still undergoing rehabilitation and has yet to resume bowling.
Recent medical scans indicated that Cummins’ back stress injury is showing signs of improvement, but he remains some distance away from full fitness. With just six weeks to go before the Ashes series begins on 21 November, his recovery timeline has cast significant doubt over his participation not just in the first Test, but potentially the entire five-match series.
The 32-year-old has already missed Australia’s white-ball assignments against South Africa and New Zealand and will also sit out the upcoming ODI and T20 series against India. Cricket Australia has not provided an official update on his condition but is understood to be cautious in managing the skipper’s workload to prevent aggravating the injury further.
In Cummins’ absence, Scott Boland is expected to lead the attack alongside experienced pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Boland, who impressed with a hat-trick in his most recent Test outing in the Caribbean, has been in outstanding form and presents a reliable option for the Australian selectors.
Should Cummins be unavailable, Steve Smith is widely tipped to take over the captaincy. Smith has previously led the side in several Tests since Cummins’ appointment as captain in 2021 and remains a natural choice to step into the leadership role.
Australia’s coach remains hopeful that Cummins can play some part in the series, emphasizing that the team is taking a cautious but optimistic approach to his recovery. With the final Test scheduled to begin in Sydney on 4 January, there remains a narrow window for Cummins to return if his rehabilitation progresses well.
The potential absence of Cummins, however, is a major concern for Australia. His leadership and consistency with the ball have been central to the team’s recent success. Losing him for a significant portion of the Ashes could hand England a vital advantage as the battle for cricket’s oldest trophy resumes.
