Cummins to miss first Ashes Test

Pat Cummins will not be available for the first Ashes Test in Perth starting on November 21, due to a lumbar stress injury he suffered in September.

Australia officially ruled him out after determining that he had insufficient time to fully recover before the match.

Cummins, the Australian captain and leading fast bowler, hasn’t played since July following the tour of the West Indies.

Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the team has “run out of time” for Cummins to be ready for the opener, but remains optimistic about his return for the second Test in Brisbane beginning December 4.

Cummins has begun running again and is expected to resume bowling soon as part of his rehabilitation process.

How he copes with the early stages of bowling will help decide if he can realistically play in Brisbane or if his comeback will be postponed to later in the series.

In Cummins’ absence, Steve Smith will captain Australia in the Perth Test. Smith has stepped into the leadership role on six occasions since 2021, when Cummins has been unavailable, and enjoys a strong winning record as stand-in captain.

Meanwhile, the Australian bowling attack is expected to include Scott Boland, who impressed during the recent West Indies tour.

Cummins’ absence comes as a setback for Australia given his role as skipper and spearhead of the bowling unit.

However, past performances show Australia remains competitive without him, having won five and drawn one of six Tests where he did not feature.

The Australian team management is hopeful that the captain’s return will provide a boost to their campaign when he rejoins the side.

He is expected to travel with the Australian squad for the Perth Test despite not being fit to play. This will allow the team to monitor his progress and integrate him back gradually as he regains bowling fitness.

The focus remains on a careful and measured path to his recovery to avoid making his injury worse.