Pat Cummins Ruled Out of First Ashes Test

Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England in Perth next month as he continues to recover from a lower back injury, Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday.

In a statement, the board said “Cummins will not be fit in time”, adding that veteran batter Steve Smith would take over the captaincy for the series opener.

The 32-year-old fast bowler has been sidelined since July, when he suffered the injury during a Test match against the West Indies. Despite ongoing rehabilitation, selectors believe Cummins will not be ready by November 21, when the Ashes series begins in Perth.

“Cummins has resumed running and expects to return to bowling shortly,” Cricket Australia stated, expressing hope that the pace spearhead could return later in the five-Test series.

Scott Boland Likely Replacement

With Cummins sidelined, Scott Boland is expected to join Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s pace attack for the first Test.

Cummins’ absence has become a major storyline ahead of the series. Speaking earlier in September, he said:

“I’m still doing gym work and staying active, but with this kind of injury, it’s mostly rest and recovery. I’m still hopeful of playing a part in the Ashes — it’s a wait-and-see situation.”

Cummins has battled recurring back issues throughout his career, including a serious flare-up in 2018 that sidelined him for an entire off-season.

England Bring Pace-Heavy Squad

England, led by Ben Stokes, are set to arrive in Australia with a pace-heavy bowling attack featuring Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, and Brydon Carse.

Former fast bowler Stuart Broad recently reignited the Ashes rivalry, suggesting Australia are fielding their “weakest side in 15 years.”

“It’s probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won here — and the best English team since then,” Broad told the BBC.

However, history favors Australia — England have won only one Ashes series in Australia since 2002-03, the famous 3-1 triumph in 2010-11.

Australia retained the Ashes after a 2-2 draw in England in 2023 and last won at home 4-0 in 2021-22, when Cummins was the leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps at an average of 18.