The Australia national cricket team has suffered a major blow as Pat Cummins has been officially ruled out of the first Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against the England national cricket team.
With Pat Cummins out, great modern-day batsman Steve Smith will take charge of the team and exceptionally talented fast bowler Scott Boland will replace him in the playing eleven.
The nature of injury is such that you never know and you live with it day after day – Andrew McDonald on Pat Cummins
Australia and England will begin the Ashes 2025-26 with a nail-biting clash at the Perth Stadium from November 21. Pat Cummins will not play the match after weeks of uncertainty as he recovers from a back stress injury.
There was intense speculation about Pat Cummins’ availability for the Ashes opener, with the Australia captain indicating that he may be fit and fine.
However, Pat Cummins has proved quite unfortunate as he has not regained match fitness and has not resumed bowling. After missing the Perth Test, Australia are confident of getting him back in the squad for the second Test starting at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 4.
“We have been struggling with this for some time,” Australia head coach McDonald told reporters in Canberra, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “The nature of the injury is such that you never know and you aggravate it day by day.
He’ll be back bowling this week, and it’s a huge step forward – Andrew McDonald
Andrew McDonald further said that Pat Cummins will resume bowling this week with the aim of being fit for the second Test. He said:
“We have run out of time. We had flagged it about a week ago that he would take more than four weeks to recover and work. Unfortunately we have run out of time, but we are really hopeful and optimistic for the second Test match.
“He’ll be back bowling this week, and that’s a big step forward. It was a big change we wanted to add. We’re on a journey to that second Test match, and hopefully it will have a positive outcome.”
Andrew McDonald confirmed that Pat Cummins will also be around the team in Perth.
“Patty will also be around the group, he’ll come to Perth… and it’ll almost be one of those things where you’ll see him and it’ll almost be a question, ‘Why isn’t he playing in Perth?’ We think he’ll be held to that level,” Andrew McDonald said.
We are incredibly fortunate to have an experienced captain like Andrew McDonald over Steve Smith
Andrew McDonald also expressed happiness over a veteran player like Steve Smith taking over the responsibility of captaincy in the absence of Cummins. He said:
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an experienced captain. It can be said that they are a good working pair. They work well together and there will be a good handover.”
Talking about Cummins’ replacement in the playing eleven, Australian head coach Scott Boland said that he is not in a bad position at all. He said:
“Losing your captain is not an ideal thing, but when you talk about a possible replacement for Scott Boland, it is not a bad situation. Ideally, we want the captain to be available for stability and decision-making. But Steve Smith will come into that position.
“You get excited about what a treat it will be to the group when (Cummins) comes back – a fully fit Pat Cummins will be back at some stage during the Ashes, and that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
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