Australia have been dealt a major blow ahead of the 2025 Ashes, with captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the opening Test in Perth and now facing the likelihood of missing the entire five-match series against England.
As reported by The Age, fresh scans conducted last week revealed that Cummins’ back stress injury has not healed enough for him to resume bowling. While the 32-year-old had remained confident about playing a key role in the series, the medical update has effectively ruled him out of the first Test, scheduled to begin on November 21.
With Cummins sidelined, Steve Smith is expected to take over as stand-in captain for the opening match against Ben Stokes’ England.
CA Declines Comment on Cummins
The scans showed some improvement in the affected area, but the stress “hot spot” has not cleared fully — a development that has pushed Cummins’ potential return timeline to the final weeks of the year. Given the tightly packed Ashes schedule, it now appears increasingly unlikely he will be fit in time to play any meaningful part in the series.
Cricket Australia has declined to comment on the fast bowler’s condition, but the silence has only reinforced the growing uncertainty around his availability. At best, Cummins may return for the tail end of the series, but that remains speculative.
His absence also forces adjustments to Australia’s bowling plans. Scott Boland is now set to partner Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc as the third seamer in Perth, stepping into a role made vacant by the team’s leading quick.
The loss of Cummins — both as strike bowler and captain — is a significant setback for Australia as they attempt to retain the Ashes urn, which they have held since 2018. England, who have not won a Test in Australia since 2011, will take encouragement from the prospect of not facing one of the world’s top pacers.
Cummins’ injury comes on the back of an intense period of bowling across formats. Despite his workload, the captain had expressed hope in recent weeks that he could recover in time.
“That would be devastating,” Cummins said in an earlier interview, reflecting on the possibility of missing the Ashes. “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.”
He added, “It’s hard to know this far out, but we’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything right to be ready 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.”
The Ashes begins on Friday, November 21 and will commence with the New Year’s Test match on January 8.
