Cummins Out of Opening Ashes Test, Smith to Lead

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth starting November 21, prompting stand-in skipper Steve Smith to lead the side amid a series of injuries plaguing the host team.

Cummins, sidelined by a back stress injury sustained after Australia's 3-0 series win over the West Indies in July, arrived early in Perth on Sunday to accelerate his recovery. He bowled at full pace for nearly an hour during a training session at Perth Stadium on Monday in hot conditions, marking a positive step toward his targeted return for the second Test in Brisbane on December 4. After the session, Cummins shared a fist pump with teammates and spoke with uncapped South Australian quick Brendan Doggett, who is set to make his Test debut in the opener. "It's probably not until you get a bit closer that you can really know where you're at," Cummins said earlier this month. "The good thing is that I'm pulling up well and the body is great. We're trying to keep that second Test as a live option. I'll have a really good bowl in Perth, and by then I'll know where I'm at."

The Australian squad, which arrived in Perth on Sunday, faces significant...