The uncertainty surrounding Pat Cummins’ participation in the upcoming Ashes series has put Australian cricket fans on edge. Despite mounting concerns about his fitness, no official decision has been made yet about whether the team’s captain and star bowler will take part. But here’s where it gets controversial: reports suggest Cummins might miss not just the opening Test in Perth on November 21, but potentially the entire series due to a persistent back injury that hasn’t fully healed according to recent scans.
Local media outlets revealed on Wednesday that Cummins, 32, is facing a serious lumbar bone stress issue. Although this has sidelined him before, the injury remains unresolved. Yet, the Australian camp stresses that he is still undergoing rehabilitation and no final call has been announced regarding his availability for the first Test, nor has there been any official update from Cricket Australia on his current condition.
This back problem previously forced Cummins out of Australia’s white-ball tours against New Zealand and India last month. Despite this, Cummins has expressed determination, stating he plans to be "aggressive" with his recovery, willing to take risks to make the Ashes lineup. This isn’t his first back injury by any means—over the years, flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2015-16 caused him to miss a significant portion of Australian cricket seasons. More recently in 2018, a recurrence kept him out of the Indian Premier League and a tour of Pakistan. Since then, he has largely remained injury-free—but this latest setback is seriously concerning.
Should Cummins be unable to play, his spot in the Australian pace attack is likely to be filled by Scott Boland, with Steve Smith expected to take over captaincy duties. Smith’s leadership is generally seen as solid—arguably even tactically superior to Cummins—but losing a bowler of Cummins’ calibre would still be a huge blow.
Australia has held the Ashes urn since 2018, maintaining dominance over England in home conditions where England hasn’t claimed victory since 2011. However, England isn’t without their own injury doubts. Their captain, Ben Stokes, has been struggling with a shoulder injury dating back to the Test series against India. Although his Durham coach, Ryan Campbell, said Stokes has returned to training and should be "ready" for the Ashes, this remains a source of concern.
What does all this mean for Australia? In terms of resources, missing Cummins would leave a significant gap in their bowling arsenal, much like England missing their talismanic all-rounder Stokes would hurt their chances. Cummins is known for leading by example—he was instrumental in Australia’s thrilling comeback at Edgbaston during the 2023 Ashes series, snatching victory from what seemed like an England win. His leadership extends beyond the captaincy; his skills as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers make him irreplaceable.
While Steve Smith’s tactical skills are unquestioned and Scott Boland boasts an impressive domestic record, no one matches Cummins’ impact on the international stage currently. The focus on fast bowling will be intense leading up to the series. England has announced their most formidable pace bowling attack since 1970, hoping their bowlers stay fit and sharp. On the other hand, Australia is anxiously awaiting news on Cummins’ fitness.
If Cummins is out, Australia's pace depth feels thin indeed. Josh Hazlewood has also dealt with recent fitness issues, and promising fast bowler Lance Morris is sidelined for the year. This would put the untested Brendan Doggett in contention, along with other potential candidates like Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, and Sean Abbott. The scarcity of ready and experienced fast bowlers could tilt the balance in England’s favour.
Interestingly, the Ashes narrative might ultimately hinge on one simple question: which captain will spend the most time on the field? With both sides grappling with injury worries around their key leaders, the series could come down to who manages to stay fit and lead at crucial moments—a factor that makes the upcoming battles not just about skill, but resilience and fortune.
What do you think—is stepping away a wise choice for Cummins, prioritizing long-term health over short-term glory? Or should he push through the pain for the pride of Australia? And how much impact do you believe captaincy and fast bowling injuries have on deciding such a high-stakes series? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
