Pat Cummins is expected to miss the first Ashes Test against England in Perth because of a lumbar back issue that is preventing him from bowling.
A scan last month revealed a bone stress injury in his lower back and the Australia captain has not bowled since July. Although there has been some improvement in the past few weeks, he has not yet been cleared to bowl by his medical team and is very likely to miss the first Test, which begins in Perth on November 21.
Cummins missed Australia’s recent white-ball series against South Africa and New Zealand and will also be absent for the upcoming ODIs and T20s against India. The best-case scenario, according to reports in Australia, would be that he is available for the later stages of the Ashes, with the fifth and final Test in Sydney beginning on January 4.
If Cummins is ruled out, Smith is likely to stand in as captain
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The development means Steve Smith will probably stand in as captain, as he did in the Test series against Sri Lanka in January when Cummins was on paternity leave. Cummins’s absence would also open the door for Scott Boland to take his place in Australia’s pace attack alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Cricket Australia has not yet commented on Cummins’s fitness. His absence would be a huge blow as Australia look to retain the Ashes they have held since 2018.
Cummins was asked a month ago about the possibility of missing the first Test, and he 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.
“I’ve had a really good run as fast bowling goes, and I’ve been really well looked after, which has got me through this many Tests. I’ve bowled a lot over the last few years, something was bound to happen at some point, but hopefully get this right and don’t miss too much cricket.”
Even if he misses the first Test, Cummins and Cricket Australia are hopeful that he will play a part in the series at some point. Once he is cleared to start bowling, the medical staff at Cricket Australia will put in place a timeline — which is likely to be over a number of weeks — for him to build up his bowling loads. Cummins has had a series of injuries during his career and over the last few years has had some issues with his ankle and has had carefully managed build-ups to each Test series.
There are eight-day breaks after each of the first two Tests of the Ashes series giving Cummins more time to return for the third Test onwards.
Australia will not name their squad for the first Test until later this month. The make-up of their top order is still in the balance, with several candidates trying to secure their place with early-season runs in the Sheffield Shield. Marnus Labuschagne, who was dropped for Australia’s tour to West Indies in July, has put himself back in the frame by scoring 160 for Queensland. South Australia’s Jake Weatherald is also in the mix for selection as an opener and stated his case with twin half-centuries.
Ashes scheduleFirst Test, Optus Stadium in Perth November 21-25Second Test, Gabba in Brisbane December 4-8Third Test, Adelaide Oval in Adelaide December 17-21Fourth Test, MCG in Melbourne December 26-30Fifth Test, SCG in Sydney January 4-8