Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the Ashes opener in Perth and could potentially be sidelined for the entire five-Test series against England. This comes after the latest scans revealed that a back stress injury has not fully healed, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The 32-year-old pacer has been dealing with back soreness since Australia’s tour of the Caribbean in July. Recent scans confirmed a lumbar bone stress in the affected area. He has been told that while the stress “hot spot” is showing signs of healing, it has not cleared sufficiently for him to bowl, raising doubts over his availability for the Ashes, which begins on November 21.
In Cummins’ absence, former captain Steve Smith is expected to lead the team. Fellow pacer Scott Boland is likely to step into the playing XI, alongside experienced bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Last month, Cummins had outlined a tentative timeline for his return, saying he expected “a minimum of a month out, maybe six weeks,” and added that his current workload was light, with no bowling and limited running.
Australia, holders of the Ashes since 2018, will closely monitor Cummins’ recovery as they prepare for the high-stakes series.
(with agency input)