Pat Cummins Doubtful For Ashes Opener In Perth Amid Injury Concerns

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September 6, 2025 0 161

Pat Cummins faces Ashes fitness race

Pat Cummins admitted uncertainty over his fitness for the first Ashes Test after scans revealed a back issue.

Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins faces a race against time to be fit for the opening Ashes Test against England at Optus Stadium, Perth, from November 21 to 25. The pacer, who picked up an injury during the Test series against West Indies in July, has already been ruled out of the white-ball series against New Zealand and India.

“(I) had another scan on Monday, which was not terrible, but enough to know there’s a little bit there and (that I) need to be careful for the next little bit. It doesn’t feel too bad, but I’m not bowling or doing much at the moment,” Cummins said.

When asked about the prospect of missing the series opener, Cummins added, “That would be devastating. We’ll be doing everything we can to be right for that and make a few decisions a little bit closer, but I’m confident we’ll do the rehab right and give it a good crack. This far out it’s hard to know, but we’re trying to make sure we’re doing everything right to be right for Perth. It’s a big Ashes series; it doesn’t get much bigger, so you’re willing to be aggressive and take a few risks to try to play as much of the Tests as you can.”

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If Cummins misses out, Steve Smith is likely to step in as captain, having already led Australia twice in 2025, including the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Sharing more about his injury, Cummins said, “I was a little bit sore after the West Indies, had a scan, and there was a little bit going on. I gave it another month, and I have had a bit of a quiet month to help it settle down. Sometimes you may just get unlucky, and you bowl lots of overs in, say, the World Test Championship final, and that’s enough to start it, but through the West Indies I felt like it was a little sore but nothing (unusual) for a fast bowler. But once you get home and everything settles down, it hung around a little bit.”