England will receive reinforcements from Ashes after Australian captain Pat Cummins missed the first Test in Perth starting November 21 due to a back injury.
Steve Smith will take charge of the hosts at Optus Stadium in Cummins’ absence.
Cummins said earlier this month that he was “unlikely” to perform in Perth after being diagnosed with a lower back stress issue in September.
The 32-year-old has not played since the third Test in West Indies in July.
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Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton reflected on Cummins’ injury concerns on a recent Sky Sports Cricket Podcast
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said “time has run out” to consider the seamer for the opening Ashes, but he is “hopeful” he will be able to return for the day-night second Test in Brisbane from December 4.
“We warned a week or so ago that it would take more than four weeks to get him up and running, but unfortunately time has run out,” McDonald said.
“But we are very optimistic and looking forward to the second Test match. He will be back bowling this week and that is a big step. We will see how he recovers before making any decisions going forward.”
“We’re heading towards that second Test and we’re very hopeful that it will be a good result. What a great injection it will be to the group when he comes back.”
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Before Cummins was ruled out of the Perth Test, England seamer Mark Wood said the Australian captain’s absence would be a “huge boost”.
Borland is likely to replace Cummins in the pace attack.
Scott Boland is the most likely replacement for Cummins in the Perth Test, with the 36-year-old poised to join hopefuls Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in the pace attack.
Boland averaged 12.63 for Australia, picking up 49 wickets in nine matches and recording an innings of 6-7 in four overs as the Baggy Greens defeated England in Melbourne in December 2021 to ensure Ashes retention.
The seamer scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 sweep of the West Indies earlier this year, took a five-wicket haul in his last match for Victoria against New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield, and took eight wickets in that match.
“It’s not ideal to lose your captain, but given that Scott Borland is a potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said.
Australia’s Scott Boland has scored a Test hat-trick in the West Indies this year.
Australia’s other pace bowling options include Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland, as well as Michael Nether, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, all aged over 30.
Borland’s Victorian teammate Fergus O’Neill, 24, could be another candidate, with the New Zealand-born quick-taker picking up 21 wickets in four games for Nottinghamshire at the start of the 2025 County Championship season, averaging 17.90 wickets.
O’Neill picked up five fours for Victoria against New South Wales earlier this month.
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Australia’s Steve Smith looks forward to banter with England’s ‘Barmy Army’ in this year’s Ashes series
Smith takes command in Cummins’ absence
Smith has been a capable deputy for Cummins, having replaced him in six Tests since 2021, with five wins in that time, including the second Ashes Test in Adelaide in 2021, when Cummins sat out due to COVID-19 precautions.
The 36-year-old captained Australia in the 2017-18 Ashes’ 4-0 home victory over England, but only lost his job in 2018 following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
MacDonald said: “Ideally, we’d like to have a captain for stability and decision-making, but…Steve Smith will probably slide into that position.”
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an experienced captain and Pat will be part of the group as well.”
Analysis: Cummins’ absence is a big blow for Australia
David Roos of Sky Sports:
Smith as captain and Boland as pace bowler will be strong replacements for Cummins, but the absence of the home team’s regular captain for at least the first Test, and probably beyond, will be a huge blow to the Ashes holders.
Cummins was one of the most complete seamers on the planet, taking 309 wickets in 71 Tests, averaging 22.10 with 14 five-wicket hauls.
He was the top wicket-taker with 23 when Australia beat England 4-0 in the 2017-18 season, but he scored 21 times when the same scoreline was repeated in the 2021-22 Ashes.
Cummins (pictured) dismissed England’s Joe Root 11 times in Test cricket
No bowler in Test cricket has disposed of England’s key Joe Root like Cummins, but only India’s Jasprit Bumrah can match Root’s 11 wickets.
Australia will also miss Cummins’ experience and will drop from eighth place.
You only have to go back to the first Test of the Ashes of 2023 at Edgbaston, where Cummins led his men to a nerve-wracking three-wicket victory, to see just how important it was.
Borland is good with the ball, but he’s not at Cummins’ level as a hitter.
With Cummins absent in Perth, England will know they have a huge chance to take an early advantage in what is expected to be an attractive series.
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
UK and Ireland all the time
First Test: Friday 21st November to Tuesday 25th November (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth Second Test (day/night): Thursday 4th December to Monday 8th December (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane Third Test: Wednesday 17th December – Sunday 21st December (12am) – Adelaide Oval Fourth Test: Thursday 25th December to Monday 29th December (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground Fifth Test: Sunday 4th January to Thursday 8th January (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
