Pat Cumminsβ Ashes build-up has been disrupted after scans revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back. The injury rules him out of Australiaβs upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India, leaving doubts about his match practice before the first Ashes Test on November 21 in Perth.
βπππππππ πππππππππππππ πππ ππ ππππππππ π πππππ ππ ππππππ ππππ ππππππ ππππ ππππ πππππππ ππππππππππ,β πͺππππππ π¨ππππππππ ππππ . βπͺππππππ πππβπ ππ ππππππ ππππ πππ πππ ππππππππ πππππππ -πππππ ππππππ.β
Recovery Timeline and Captaincy Concerns
Although Cummins has avoided a stress fracture, the 11-week window for recovery leaves limited opportunities for competitive cricket before the Ashes. He may only feature in a domestic one-day game on November 3 if his back settles.
If Cummins misses Tests, Steven Smith is expected to captain, with Travis Head remaining as vice-captain.
βHe has experienced ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies Test tour,β CAβs statement added.
Australia may also rely on bowlers like Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, with workload management becoming critical.
Also Read: Rashid, Ashraf Shine as Afghanistan Secure First Tri-Series Win

