pat cummins ashes

Pat Cummins Ruled Out of Ashes 2025-26? Here's the Latest Update

Arun Das

Modified - Oct 27, 2025, 07:50 AM

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The 2025‑26 Ashes series is scheduled from 21st  November 2025 to 8th January 2026. It is one of the most eagerly anticipated Test series, featuring five high-stakes matches across Australia, starting in Perth and moving to Brisbane for a day‑night Test, followed by Adelaide, Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, and concluding in Sydney.

Australia, the current holders of the Ashes Trophy, is set to face a significant challenge even before the first ball is bowled, as their regular Test captain and premier fast bowler, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the AUS vs ENG 1st Test due to a persistent lower‑back stress injury that has sidelined him since July. Cummins is arguably the best Test captain in the world. His absence not only weakens Australia’s bowling attack but also removes a key leadership figure from the field as Cummins.

Pat Cummins Injury Ruled Him Out of First Ashes Test

Steve Smith will captain Australia in the first Ashes Test in Perth, after regular skipper Pat Cummins was officially ruled out of the series opener due to a back injury. Cummins has yet to resume bowling as he continues his recovery from the stress injury he sustained during the Caribbean tour in June. The injury had also forced him to miss the recent white-ball series against South Africa, New Zealand, and India. The encouraging update from Cricket Australia is that Cummins has started running and is expected to return to bowling soon.

Pat Cummins Ashes 2025-26 dreams are in danger as he faces a tight timeline to regain full fitness in time for the AUS vs ENG 2nd Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, set to begin on December 4. Head coach Andrew McDonald expressed optimism about Cummins’ return, saying that while the first Test is off the table, there is hope he will be available for Australia’s second match in the series.

"We've run out of time [to make the opener]," McDonald said. "We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take four-plus weeks to get him up and running. We've run out of time, unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.
"He'll be back bowling this week, and that's a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in. We're on the journey to that second Test match, and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome."

Meanwhile, players like Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are expected to step up in Cummins’ absence, but the Australian lineup still looks as deadly as before due to the incredible performances made by Scott Boland as their fourth seamer. For England, this presents a strategic opportunity, as they have not won a Test series in Australia since 2011, and the absence of Cummins could help them get a head start in the series. The Australia-England rivalry is one of the greatest rivalries in cricket, and expect nothing short of a hard-fought one and a half month of red-ball action.

Steve Smith Set to Return as Australia Captain

Due to Pat Cummins injury, Steve Smith is set to lead the Aussie lineup during the first Test of the Ashes. Pat Cummins Test captaincy has been exceptional, as under his leadership, Australia won the ICC WTC 2023 as well as the ICC World Cup in the same year, but Steve Smith also brings a wealth of experience as Australia’s Test captain. Steve Smith captaincy record in Test has been in 40 matches so far.

His most recent stint as captain came in February this year, when Australia secured a 2-0 series victory in Sri Lanka. Notably, Smith has an impressive batting record while leading the side, averaging nearly 70 as Test captain, which is significantly higher than his career average of around 50 when he is not the captain.

There is also encouraging news regarding Cameron Green, who missed the recent ODI series against India due to side soreness. He has now resumed bowling and is set to play for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, although he is still awaiting full clearance to bowl in that match.