Cummins, who was hopeful of playing a major role in Australia’s effort to retain the Ashes urn, has been ruled out of the opener in Perth on November 21 and could miss all five Tests, with Steve Smith expected to lead against Ben Stokes’ England.
File Photo: ANI
Australia captain Pat Cummins is reportedly set to miss the start of the Ashes, and possibly the entire series, after fresh scans revealed his back stress injury has not yet fully healed.
Cummins, who was hopeful of playing a major role in Australia’s effort to retain the Ashes urn, has been ruled out of the opener in Perth on November 21 and could miss all five Tests, with Steve Smith expected to lead against Ben Stokes’ England.
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According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 32-year-old Cummins’ latest scan showed the stress “hot spot” was healing, but not enough for him to resume bowling. His return may now be delayed until the year’s end, making it difficult to regain match fitness in time for the tightly packed series.
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Cricket Australia is yet to make any official comment on the extent of Cummins’ injury.
Despite being sidelined, Cummins will remain with the team throughout the Ashes to provide leadership and guidance to Smith and the squad. Smith, currently in New York with his wife Dani, will soon return to state and national duties.
Selectors are keen for the 36-year-old Smith to continue in Test cricket until at least the 2027 Ashes in England. Cummins could potentially return later in the series, with Scott Boland set to join Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in Perth.
The injury is a major blow to Australia’s bid to retain the urn they’ve held since 2017. England, without a win in Australia since 2011, will be buoyed by Cummins’ absence.
“That would be devastating,” Cummins admitted last month. “We’ll be doing everything we can to be right for that… It’s a big Ashes series, doesn’t get much bigger, so you’re willing to be aggressive and take a few risks to try to play as much of the Tests as you can.”
“I have had a really good run as fast bowling goes, and I have been really well looked after, which has got me through this many Tests. I have bowled a lot over the last few years; something was bound to happen at some point, but hopefully, I get this right and do not miss too much cricket,” he added.
Former teammate Simon Katich suggested selectors could look at Henry Thornton as a surprise inclusion. “He’s only played seven first-class games, but he’s a wicket-taker… But I think Scott Boland comes first in if [Cummins] misses that first Test,” Katich told SEN Radio.
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