Pat Cummins to Miss Ashes Opener Due to Injury

Australian captain Pat Cummins will miss the first Test of the 2025-26 Ashes series against England, starting November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth, but showed promising signs in training as he targets a return for the second match at the Gabba in Brisbane. With Cummins sidelined by a back injury, vice-captain Steve Smith will lead the side in the opener, where Scott Boland is set to step in as the third seamer alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Cummins, who has taken 309 wickets in 71 Tests, bowled at full pace during a session at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, marking his first significant red-ball workload since July. The 32-year-old's progress has raised optimism within the Australian camp, though he acknowledged that playing unchanged from the second Test onward remains unlikely due to his recovery. In his absence, the 15-man squad announced this week features a blend of experience and potential, including uncapped batter Jake Weatherald and allrounder Beau Webster, with only Cameron Green under 30 years old.

Speculation surrounds the playing XI, particularly the balance between batting depth and bowling options on Perth's pace-friendly pitch. Former...