Table of Contents
Pat Cummins Prioritises Ashes fitness
Pat Cummins missed the upcoming New Zealand T20I tour as a precaution after experiencing back tightness.
Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in October as a precautionary measure. According to CODE Sports, the 32-year-old will undergo routine scans on his back after feeling tightness since returning from the Caribbean tour last month.
Cummins had already sat out Australia’s white-ball series against the West Indies and South Africa earlier this year. With the high-profile Ashes 2025/26 series approaching at home, Cricket Australia has decided to prioritise his long-term fitness and keep him fresh for the five-Test campaign.
Despite his likely absence from the New Zealand tour, Cummins is expected to return in the ODI series against India in October, as reported by News Corp. He is also scheduled to feature in at least one Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales before the first Ashes Test in Perth.
The plan is to build him up gradually for red-ball cricket, ensuring he regains match intensity without putting excess load on his body.
Hazlewood explains different plans for Test bowlers
Pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood confirmed that Australia’s frontline Test bowlers will follow individual preparation programs ahead of the Ashes.
“The Test guys will play more than one Shield game. They’ll probably play two or three, but everyone’s on different programs,” Hazlewood said. Hazlewood stressed the importance of game time in preparation. “Time on the field, multiple spells in a day, it’s sort of hard to replicate it at training. For me, the best way is to keep ticking over, keep playing, and not have too long off bowling.”
ALSO READ | “Don’t Think He Will…”: AB de Villiers Makes Shocking Jasprit Bumrah Prediction For Asia Cup 2025
Australia’s pace attack is already under pressure with several injuries in the squad. Fringe pacers Lance Morris, Spencer Johnson, and Ben Dwarshuis are all sidelined with fitness issues ahead of the summer. This increases the responsibility on Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland to remain fit for the demanding Ashes series.
Australia’s three-match T20I series against New Zealand begins on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. Cummins, however, is unlikely to play, with his focus firmly set on returning fully fit for the Ashes.
Dafabet
- Maximum Cricket Cashback 10%
- India Super League Cashback
- Common wallet 100% deposit bonus up to ₹8,000 !
Last Updated on August 30, 2025
