Australian skipper Pat Cummins remains sidelined from bowling due to a back injury, meaning he’ll miss the first Ashes Test against England in Perth this November, as reported by several local media outlets on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old pacer is dealing with a lower back stress injury, an issue that has persisted since Australia’s tour of the West Indies earlier this year.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported, based on sources, that recent scans showed the injury hasn’t healed, sidelining Cummins for the Perth Test and casting doubt on his availability for all five matches in this high-stakes series.
Cricket Australia has provided no further updates on Cummins’ condition.
Should Cummins be unfit for the Perth Test starting November 21, former captain Steve Smith is likely to step in as captain, with Scott Boland joining the bowling lineup.
