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Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the opening Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against Ben Stokes-led England, starting on November 21 at Perth Stadium. Cummins is yet to recover from his back stress issue and won’t lead Australia in the series opener.
As per a report by Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins had a scan last week. While the "hot spot" is his back is healing, he won't be able to bowl full tilt soon. Cricket Australia is yet to make an official comment on the matter. Currently, he is doubtful for the entire Ashes series.
Earlier this week, Cummins was not picked in the ODI and T20I squads for home series against India. In his absence Mitchell Marsh will lead the ODI side in the series starting on October 19 at Perth Stadium.
Who will lead Australia in Cummins’ absence?
Steve Smith will take over the captaincy duties in Cummins’ absence. Smith last captained the Test side on Sri Lanka tour in January 2025 in the absence of Cummins. He has led Australia in 40 Tests. Under his leadership, Australia have won 23 Tests, lost 10 whereas seven ended in a draw.
Who will replace Cummins in Australia’s playing XI for Perth Test?
It is a no-brainer that Scott Boland will join the pace attack featuring Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Boland has been the unlucky one as he has been often benched despite exceptional statistics. He walks into the side whenever a bowler is injured. His last Test appearance was in West Indies when off-spinner Nathan Lyon was benched in pacer-friendly conditions in pink-ball Test.
Boland has played five Tests against England and claimed 20 wickets at an average of 20.15. His Test career's best bowling figures of 6/7 came against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in December 2021.
'Devastating' fear comes true for Cummins
A month ago, Cummins had said that it “would be devastating” if he was to miss the Ashes at home. He was willing to take risks to feature in the side for the big series.
"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,” Cummins had told the reporters in Brisbane.
“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.”
Cummins’ last international appearance was in July 2025. Since then, he has missed the T20I series against West Indies, white-ball series at home against South Africa and T20I series on New Zealand soil.
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