By: The Trek News Desk
Australia captain and pace spearhead Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a persistent lower-back injury. Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday that Cummins will miss the series opener against England, starting November 21, with Steve Smith stepping in as captain.
Cummins has been sidelined since July while recovering from a lower-back strain, which has kept him away from full training with the national squad.
Coach McDonald Confident of Cummins’ Return for Second Test
Head coach Andrew McDonald said the 32-year-old has resumed light running and is expected to start bowling later this week, a positive sign for his recovery ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, scheduled to begin December 4 under lights.
“It usually takes about four weeks to get him fully up and running, and we’ve simply run out of time for the first Test,” McDonald told reporters in Canberra.
“But we’re optimistic and hopeful that he’ll be fit and ready for the second one.”
Boland Likely to Replace Cummins in Perth
Cummins has featured in every Ashes series since making his debut against England in 2017-18, playing a vital role in helping Australia regain and retain the iconic urn.
McDonald acknowledged that losing both his captain and lead fast bowler ahead of such a high-profile Test was “not ideal,” but said the team had prepared contingency plans well in advance.
Veteran seamer Scott Boland is expected to replace Cummins in the playing XI, joining Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in Australia’s pace attack at Perth Stadium.
The 36-year-old Boland, known for his consistency and precision on Australian pitches, has claimed 62 wickets in just 14 Tests at an impressive average of 16.53.
“When you talk about Scott Boland as the replacement, that’s a great position to be in,” McDonald said. “And when Pat returns fully fit, it’ll be a huge boost to the group.”
Steve Smith Returns as Captain
Smith, who lost the captaincy in 2018 following the infamous ball-tampering scandal, has since led Australia on several occasions in Cummins’ absence.
“We’re fortunate to have someone as experienced as Steve to step in,” McDonald said.
“Both Pat and Steve work really well together, and Pat will still travel with the squad to Perth.”
Mitchell Marsh in Line for Test Recall
McDonald also hinted that all-rounder Mitchell Marsh could be recalled to the Test squad despite focusing primarily on white-ball cricket in recent months.
“If we believe someone from the white-ball setup can strengthen the Test side, we won’t hesitate,” he said. “Mitch is batting as well as he has in years, and we haven’t given up on his red-ball future.”
Source: News Agencies
