Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins, will miss the opening Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth and could be away from all five encounters after a fresh round of scans revealed his back stress problem had not healed yet. The veteran, who was confident of regaining his full fitness and being prepared for the series opener on November 21, has no chance of reaching that stage. 

At this rate, Steve Smith is likely to lead the national side against Ben Stokes’ England. Even though the reports are confidential, the 32-year-old Australia pacer underwent a scan last week to assess his progress ahead of the summer and was informed that, although the hot spot has healed, he will not be able to bowl for the seven weeks.

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The loss of Cummins with a back stress injury is a massive blow for the home side of retaining the Ashes urn that they have held since 2018. In that case, Scott Boland now looks certain to be the third seamer along with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in Perth, with new back-ups expected to come.

Pat Cummins to miss opening Ashes 2025-26 Test in Perth and uncertain for full series

England haven’t won a single red-ball clash on Australian soil since 2011 and will be given the strength that they would be facing Australia’s strongest leader and pacer. The best scenario for the New South Wales pacer will be to come back by the end of the Ashes. However, that also looks quite impossible in the tight schedule of the Australian side.

“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.” Cummins expressed a month ago in Brisbane when asked if there was any chance of missing Perth.

“I’ve had a really good run as fast bowling goes, and I’ve been really well looked after, which has got me through this many Tests. I’ve bowled a lot over the last few years; something was bound to happen at some point.” The NSW pacer is feared.