Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has officially been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a back injury. However, he is expected to resume bowling this week in a bid to be fit for the second Test in Brisbane. Steven Smith will captain Australia in the opening Test against England, which begins on November 21, while the second Test in Brisbane is scheduled to start on December 4.
Cummins’ absence had been widely anticipated after it was revealed earlier this month that he had been unable
to return to bowling following a lumbar stress injury diagnosed in September. The injury came after he experienced discomfort upon returning from the tour of the West Indies.
"We've run out of time. We sort of flagged this a week or so ago that it would take sort of four plus weeks to get him up and running and we've run out of time, unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match,” said head coach Andrew McDonald to reporters in Canberra as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"So I suppose the next question is what's the time frame? What does it look like for the second Test? Not really going to be able to answer that other than to say that he'll be back bowling this week and that's a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in and get that information. So we're on the journey to that second Test and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome,” he added.
How Cummins responds during the early stages of his return to bowling will be crucial in determining whether a Brisbane comeback is a realistic target, or if a later return in the series will be the safer option. Since overcoming the back injuries that sidelined him early in his career, resulting in a five-and-a-half-year gap between his first and second Test appearances, the current red-ball skipper has maintained an outstanding fitness record.
"[We'll] see how he pulls up and then we'll make decisions moving forward. I know that sounds really boring and everyone wants a time frame and what's the risk associated with it. There's better people than I to speculate on what that is,” said McDonald.
"With the nature of this injury, it's never going to be a clear time frame and I think that's what everyone here wants is a time frame to say, this is definitely what will happen. We're not in a position to do that and I'd never put the medical team under that sort of duress either,” he added.
Playing without the captain isn't an ideal thing: McDonald
Smith has captained Australia six times as Cummins’ deputy since 2021, winning five of those matches, including once during the 2021–22 Ashes when Cummins was ruled out as a COVID-19 close contact in Adelaide. Cummins’ absence from Australia’s attack for the first Test means that Scott Boland is likely to retain his place in the side after featuring in the team’s most recent series against the West Indies, where he notably claimed a hat-trick.
"Losing your captain's not ideal, but when you talk about 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...Steven Smith will slide into that position,” said McDonald.
"I suppose you get excited about when he does come back, what an injection that will be to the group, a fully fit Pat Cummins returning some stage during the Ashes and that's what we're hopeful for,” he added.
The hosts’ squad for the first Test is expected to be announced next week, following the third round of Sheffield Shield matches, which begins on Tuesday. Cummins will travel with the team despite being unavailable to play, as he continues his rehabilitation and gradual return to bowling.
"It'll almost be one of those things where you'll see him at work and it'll almost be a question of why isn't he playing in Perth? That's where we think he'll be placed by that stage. So we're excited by getting eyes on him in a bowling capacity,” said McDonald.
