Pat Cummins Ruled Out of First Ashes Test with Back Injury

Australia captain Pat Cummins has been officially ruled out of the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth due to a back injury. Vice-captain Steven Smith will lead the side when the series begins on November 21, with hopes that Cummins can return for the second Test in Brisbane starting December 4.

Cummins’ absence had been widely anticipated after he failed to resume bowling since being diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury in September. The issue emerged following discomfort he experienced after returning from Australia’s tour of the West Indies.

Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the decision, acknowledging that time had simply run out for Cummins to recover in time for the opener.

“We’ve run out of time,” McDonald said. “We flagged a week or so ago that it would take four-plus weeks to get him up and running, and unfortunately that’s where we are. The positive is that he’ll be back bowling this week, which is a huge step forward. We’re very hopeful for the second Test.”

McDonald said that how Cummins’ body responds to his initial bowling sessions will determine whether Brisbane is a realistic target for his return or if a later match in the series is more likely.

“We’ll see how he pulls up and then make decisions moving forward,” McDonald added. “With this type of injury, there’s never a clear time frame, and we won’t put the medical team under that sort of pressure.”

Since overcoming the series of back injuries that hampered his early career — resulting in a five-and-a-half-year gap between his first and second Test matches — Cummins has maintained an exceptional fitness record.

Smith, who has captained Australia six times since 2021 in Cummins’ absence, has won five of those matches, including a 2021–22 Ashes Test in Adelaide when Cummins was ruled out due to being a Covid close contact.

Cummins’ unavailability opens the door for Scott Boland to retain his place in the bowling lineup. Boland impressed in Australia’s recent tour of the West Indies, where he claimed a hat-trick.

“Losing your captain is not ideal, but when Scott Boland is your potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said. “Ideally, we want our captain for stability and decision-making, but Steve Smith will slide into that role comfortably.”

Australia’s squad for the Perth Test will be named next week following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches, which begin on Tuesday. Despite his injury, Cummins is expected to travel with the squad.

“By the time we get to Perth, you’ll probably see him bowling in the nets and wonder why he isn’t playing,” McDonald added. “That’s how close we expect him to be.”