Last Updated:September 06, 2025, 10:06 IST
The first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England will be played at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21 to 25.
Pat Cummins doubtful for first Ashes Test. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Star Australian fast bowler and Test captain Pat Cummins is uncertain about playing in the first Test of the Ashes series. The first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series between Australia and England is scheduled to take place at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21 to 25. Cummins, who suffered injury during the three-match Test series against the West Indies in July, has already been ruled out of the white-ball series against New Zealand and India next month.
According to Cummins, “(I) had another scan on Monday, which was not terrible, but enough to know there’s a little bit there and (that I) need to be careful for the next little bit. It doesn’t feel too bad, but I’m not bowling or doing much at the moment,” Cummins said.
When asked what it would be like to miss out on the first Test of the Ashes series, Cummins said, “That would be devastating. We’ll be doing everything we can to be right for that and make a few decisions a little bit closer, but I’m confident we’ll do the rehab right and give it a good crack. This far out it’s hard to know, but we’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything right to be right for Perth. It’s a big Ashes series; it 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,” he added.
If Cummins misses the series opener due to injury-related issues, then Steve Smith will lead the Baggy Greens. Smith has already captained Australia two times in 2025. He was in charge of the team that travelled to Sri Lanka earlier this year for a two-match Test series.
Cummins, who suffered injury during the three-match series against the West Indies in June-July, said that he had pain in his back after he returned home from the Caribbean islands, which forced him to spend a few quiet weeks.
“I was a little bit sore after the West Indies, had a scan, and there was a little bit going on. I gave it another month, and I have had a bit of a quiet month to help it settle down. Sometimes you may just get unlucky, and you bowl lots of overs in, say, the World Test Championship final, and that’s enough to start it, but through the West Indies I felt like it was a little sore but nothing (unusual) for a fast bowler. But once you get home and everything settles down, it hung around a little bit,” Cummins added.
First Published:
September 06, 2025, 10:06 IST
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