Australia captain Pat Cummins has been officially declared out of the first Ashes Test in Perth after missing out on recovering from a back injury in time, as confirmed by Cricket Australia on Monday. The hosts will be captained by Steven Smith at the start of the series against England, which begins on November 21.
Head coach Andrew McDonald has reported that Cummins, who is out with a lumbar stress injury, will bowl again this week in a bid to be fit to play the second Ashes Test in Brisbane, which commences on December 4.
“We’ve Run Out of Time,” Says McDonald
In an interview with the reporters at Canberra, Andrew McDonald acknowledged that Pat Cummins never had a chance of playing the Perth Ashes Test because of his time plan to recover.
“We had marked it approximately a week ago that we were going to take four or more weeks to get him on the air. Unfortunately, we’ve just run out of time. We hope for the second test in the Ashes. He is going back bowling this week, which is a big step in the right direction,” said McDonald.
McDonald also added that the manner in which Pat Cummins will react to his first bowling workload would be a deciding factor on whether or not Brisbane will be a viable comeback or the team will work out a return at a later stage in the Ashes Test series.The coach said that there will never be a clear time frame with the nature of this injury.
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Cummins’ Fitness and Recovery Journey
The 32-year-old Pat Cummins was diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury in September, shortly after returning from Australia’s tour of the West Indies. He experienced discomfort while training and was advised to complete rest.
Since then, Pat Cummins has been undergoing an extensive rehabilitation programme that included strengthening work, running sessions and, more recently, light bowling loads.
Images from Sydney’s Cricket Central last week showed Pat Cummins running freely, raising early hopes that he might recover for the Perth Ashes Test. However, medical staff recommended a more cautious approach, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term availability.
McDonald said the plan was always to have Pat Cummins ready “as early as possible” but stressed that no risk would be taken for a single Ashes Test.
Smith Steps In Again as Captain
With Cummins unavailable, Steven Smith will once again captain Australia — a role he has handled successfully in the past. Smith has led the team six times since Cummins took over the captaincy in 2021, winning five of those matches, including one in the 2021-22 Ashes Test series when Cummins was ruled out as a COVID close contact.
Smith’s experience and calm leadership are expected to help Australia maintain stability in what is always a high-pressure Ashes Test environment.
“Losing your captain’s not ideal, but when you talk about someone like Scott Boland being the potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in. Ideally, we want the captain available for stability and decision-making, but Steve Smith will slide into that position seamlessly,” McDonald said.
Who Replaces Cummins in the Bowling Attack?
Cummins’ absence opens the door for Scott Boland, who impressed in Australia’s most recent series against the West Indies, where he claimed a hat-trick. The likely bowling combination for the first Ashes Test will include Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Boland.
Boland’s disciplined line and length, coupled with Starc’s pace and Hazlewood’s control, should ensure that the Australian attack remains competitive even without their captain.
Cricket Australia will name its final squad for the Perth Ashes Test next week, following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches.
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What This Means for Australia
From a tactical standpoint, Australia’s plans for the first Ashes Test will need slight adjustments. Perth’s Optus Stadium offers pace and bounce, conditions tailor-made for Cummins. His absence means Smith and McDonald will rely more heavily on Starc’s aggression and Boland’s accuracy to maintain pressure.
Despite the setback, the home side still boasts one of the strongest bowling groups in Test cricket. With Smith leading, the Ashes Test opener will be another test of Australia’s depth and resilience.
When Will Cummins Return?
Cricket Australia has not provided a definitive timeline but is “hopeful” that Pat Cummins will feature in the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, beginning December 4.
The focus now shifts to how well Cummins’ back responds once he returns to bowling later this week. If he progresses without discomfort, Brisbane could mark his comeback. Otherwise, Australia may look at a third-Test return in Adelaide.
Regardless, Pat Cummins will travel with the squad and continue his rehab alongside the team during the Ashes Test opener in Perth. McDonald said fans might even see him training during match week.
“You’ll probably see him working hard and wonder why he isn’t playing,” McDonald said. “That’s where we think he’ll be placed by that stage — close, but not quite ready.”
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Amit Mishra’s Take
The confirmation that Pat Cummins will miss the first Ashes Test is no surprise, but it remains a blow for Australia’s campaign. The management’s cautious approach suggests the priority is the bigger picture — ensuring their captain returns fully fit for the remainder of the Ashes Test series.
With Steven Smith stepping up once again and a proven pace unit in support, Australia will likely begin their Ashes Test defence on the right note in Perth, before their leader returns to spearhead the attack in Brisbane.
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