Australia sweating on Cummins’ back injury ahead of Ashes
Australia sweating on Cummins’ back injury ahead of Ashes
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins will undergo scans on Monday to assess the extent of a back injury, with his availability for the upcoming Ashes in doubt, local media reported.
Cummins did not bowl in the second innings of Australia’s third Test against West Indies in July, when his side bowled the visitor out for just 27, with Mitchell Starc taking six wickets and Scott Boland claiming a hat-trick.
The 31-year-old may also miss Australia’s white-ball assignments ahead of the Ashes, with reports suggesting he could be a doubt for the first Test in Perth.
Cummins is expected to sit out the three-match T20I series in New Zealand and the home limited-overs series against India, which features three ODIs and five T20Is.
If Cummins is unavailable for the Ashes opener, Steve Smith is the likely replacement as captain, having stepped in during the 2021–22 series when Cummins missed the Adelaide Test due to COVID-19.
Published on Sep 01, 2025
