Ashes 2025-26: Pat Cummins Doubtful For Series After Back Injury Blow. Australia suffered a huge blow ahead of the 2025–26 Ashes series, with captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the first Test and possibly the entire series. The star paceman has struggled with a lower-back stress injury since before the last Test series against the West Indies. The injury has not progressed as expected. This continues to pose a serious concern for the upcoming marquee series against England.
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Worsening Back Injury Issues
It has been reported that Cummins has not been able to fully recover from the lower back injury despite weeks of rehab. Australia was hoping he would return for the Perth Test in November. Following the latest medical assessment, he has had ongoing discomfort that does not allow him to bowl at full intensity. Team officials now admit that Cummins is unlikely to make the early matches of the Ashes series. He will miss the entire five-match series if he does not improve shortly.
Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that they have been managing Cummins’s fluff workload since the West Indies tour earlier this year. McDonald described Cummins’ injury situation as positive. He emphasized that Australia will not take risks that could lead to a prolonged absence affecting his long-term fitness.
Smith Expected to Lead
With Cummins absent from the Test, Steve Smith is expected to captain the side. Australia is also considering Scott Boland as the third pace bowler alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. There may even be a rotation plan for the three quicks through the series to manage their workloads.
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With Cummins unavailable, Australia not only has less firepower in its bowling attack, but it also loses a calm, strategic leader who has played a vital role in Australia’s recent Test batting successes. While the prospect of him returning at the last minute cannot be excluded, Australia’s Ashes challenge has already met a pretty major obstacle, even before a ball is bowled.
