Pat Cummins Set to Miss the First Ashes Test

In a significant blow to Australia’s Ashes campaign, skipper Pat Cummins is set to miss the first Test of the series, starting on November 21 at the Perth Stadium in Perth. The reason for his unavailability is the prolonged stress injury to the back. Senior batter Steven Smith is all set to lead the side in Pat’s absence.

Pat Cummins could be in jeopardy of missing the entire Ashes series

For now, it has been revealed that Cummins won’t be available for the opening Test match, but clouds of doubt loom over him for missing the entire Test series. Pat Cummins developed a back problem during a regular check-up after Australia’s tour of the West Indies earlier this year. Although scans didn’t show a fracture, doctors found enough stress in the bone to recommend rest and recovery. As a result, Cricket Australia left him out of the New Zealand white-ball series, and he’ll also miss the upcoming white-ball home games against India.

There were hopes in early September that Cummins could resume bowling later in October, but that doesn’t seem to be the case in the near future, and he might have to wait for a longer period of time to return to the field.

Ashes 2025-26

The Ashes 2025 is all set to be played in Australia this time around. The hosts are the current holders of the urn and would be looking for a dominant display at home with or without their skipper, Pat Cummins. Australia is always a force to be reckoned with while playing in familiar conditions, and they won’t leave any stone unturned in keeping the urn to themselves after the conclusion of Ashes 2025.

Ashes 2025-26 Schedule

Below is the schedule for Ashes 2025-26,

Ashes 2025 Squads

So far, only the visitors England have announced their squad for the series. The hosts are expected to announce their squad at the end of this month, most probably after the white-ball series against India. Below is the English squad for the series.

England Squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood

Key Takeaways:

• With names like Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, and Shoaib Bashir, England is showing intent to build for the future.
• Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue add fresh pace options alongside veterans Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse.
• All-rounder Will Jacks has earned a surprise call into the Test side.