Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins will be closely monitored in the buildup to the home Ashes series, which begins in November, after tests revealed a level of lumbar bone stress in his back. The 32-year-old pacer has been ruled out of the forthcoming white-ball series against India from October to November and New Zealand in October, according to Cricket Australia, which also revealed that he will need more rehabilitation.
The problem was discovered during routine checks during the World Test Championship Final and the West Indies tour earlier this year. Even though there was no fracture visible on the scans, the bone stress was considered high enough to warrant a rest period.
Australia May Rely on Scott Boland as Cummins Battles Back Issues Ahead of Ashes
Since assuming the captaincy in November 2021, Pat Cummins has had to handle a significant amount of Test responsibility. He has only missed two Test matches because of injury during that time, helping Australia win the WTC, hold onto the Ashes in England, and win the ODI World Cup in 2023. He has been instrumental in Australia’s success over the past two Ashes campaigns, playing in nearly every Test match and most recently bowling 95.1 overs in four games in England and the Caribbean—a workload that made his back worse.
Despite being one of Australia’s most reliable players lately, Cummins has a lengthy history of back issues. Following his spectacular Test debut in 2011, he had multiple stress fractures that hindered his progress early in his career. Only in 2017 did he fully return, and he went on to play a key role in Australia’s assault, missing only one of the previous 20 Ashes Test matches.
Selectors will probably look to Scott Boland to support the assault if Pat Cummins is unable to return to full fitness prior to the Ashes opener in Perth. Steve Smith, the vice captain who filled in during the Sri Lanka series, will take over as captain. Since his participation is thought to be essential to Australia’s chances of keeping the Ashes at home, they will be praying their captain recovers in time.
