Perth, 27 October 2025:
Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth, with Steve Smith set to lead the side in his absence.
Cummins, 32, has been recovering from a back injury that flared up earlier this year. He said earlier this month he was “less than likely” to play in the series opener on Nov. 21. Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed Monday that the fast bowler had “run out of time,” but remained hopeful Cummins would be fit for the second Test in Brisbane beginning Dec. 4.
“We’ve grappled with it for a little while, and the nature of the injury is that you deal with it day by day,” McDonald said. “We’re really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match. He’ll be back bowling this week — that’s a huge step.”
Cummins’ absence is a major setback for Australia, who will be without their premier pacer and leader. Reports of his fitness concerns first surfaced in September, when he was ruled out of the white-ball series against New Zealand and India with a lumbar stress fracture.
Smith, 36, will step in as captain for the seventh time. The veteran batter, a former Ashes-winning skipper, lost the captaincy in 2018 following the ball-tampering scandal but has since re-established himself as a key leader.
Scott Boland is expected to take Cummins’ place in the bowling attack, joining Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in a pace-heavy lineup for the five-Test series.
“Losing your captain is not ideal,” McDonald said, “but when you’re talking about Scott Boland as a potential replacement, it’s not a bad position to be in.”
McDonald also suggested that allrounder Mitchell Marsh remains in consideration for a Test return, saying, “We still haven’t given up on Mitch Marsh’s Test career.”
Ashes schedule:
First Test: November 21-25, Perth Stadium, 1.30pm AEDT
Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N), 3.30pm AEDT
Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 11am AEDT
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am AEDT
Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10.30am AEDT
