In a significant development, Australia's genius opener Travis Head is said to be missing the last two T20Is against India to prepare for the forthcoming Ashes series. The decision comes as part of Cricket Australia’s strategy to prioritize red-ball cricket ahead of the marquee Test series against England. Head’s withdrawal would follow that of Josh Hazlewood, who has already opted out of the 4th and 5th T20Is.

According to a report by CodeSports, the Ashes is less than a month away, and Australian players are keen to begin early preparations. England’s tour of Australia for the five-match Test series starts on November 21, and several senior players have started adjusting their workloads accordingly. With Head unavailable, Matthew Short is expected to move up the order and open alongside captain Mitchell Marsh in the remaining T20Is.

Head’s current form might have also influenced the decision, as the left-hander has managed only 93 runs in four innings across formats on the ongoing tour of India. In contrast, Short has been in impressive touch, scoring 112 runs in three ODI innings, though he was dismissed for a golden duck in the first T20I.

Cricket Australia Focus Shifts to Ashes Preparations

Cricket Australia is concentrating on the Ashes with both players and staff structuring their timing around the focal event. Head’s decision is similar to Hazlewood’s previous decision in signalling that the team wants to prioritize Test match readiness. Coach Andrew McDonald had also left the camp after the first ODI to begin Ashes planning, holding discussions with Steve Smith and Pat Cummins.

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England too appears to be taking a similar approach, with Jofra Archer being rested from the first ODI against New Zealand as part of workload management. Both teams are now looking to balance T20 commitments with red-ball preparation as the prestigious Ashes series draws closer.

Cricket Australia (CA) has officially announced the captain's name for the first fixture of the Ashes 2025-26 against England after confirming that the regular captain Pat Cummins will be unavailable for the selection for the five-match Test series opener. 

Pat Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury. After returning from the West Indies tour, Cummins had a complaint of discomfort as he was diagnosed with a lumbar stress injury last September. As time progresses, it is expected that Cummins may miss the Ashes 2025-26 opener, which the Perth Stadium will host from November 24.  

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We've run out of time: Head Coach about Pat Cummins' return for the first Test of Ashes 2025-26

The Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has admitted that they have run out of time, as Pat Cummins can't be match fit for the Ashes 2025-26 opener. McDonald is hopeful of Cummins' return to the second Test, which will be a pink-ball day/night Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, starting on December 4.

McDonald told reporters, "We've grappled with it for a little while. The nature of the injury is that you never know and you're sort of taking it a day by day. We've run out of time. We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take four-plus weeks to get him up and running. We've run out of time unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match."

McDonald also confirmed that Pat Cummins will return to bowling this week, which will be a massive step in his recovery. 

The head coach added, "He'll be back bowling this week, and that's a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in. We're on the journey to that second Test match, and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome."

Steven Smith will lead Australia for first Test of Ashes 2025-26

In the absence of the regular skipper Pat Cummins, former Aussie skipper Steven Smith will take charge of the Test side for the first Test of the Ashes 2025-26. While Smith has led the Baggy Greens 40 times in Test cricket, they won 23 Tests, lost seven times, and drew 10 times. He previously led the team during Australia's two-match Test series against the hosts Sri Lanka last January-February. Smith has led Australia in six matches of the Ashes, all in Australia, where his team won five times and drew once. 

England are desperate to end their wait for a Test win in Australia, as they last won a Test match in Australia in January 2011 at Sydney, where they won their last Ashes series in Australia by a 3-1 margin.  

The former England pacer, Stuart Broad, who will work with the Australian media this summer for the five-match Test series in the Ashes 2025-26, has hit back at the prediction of the former opener, David Warner, who felt that this Ben Stokes-led team won’t have the skill to claim the Ashes.

Warner felt that one of the games would be rained off, leading to Australia’s 4-0 series victory. However, Broad reckoned that the current Australia Test side would perhaps be the worst side to face a better England team, as the home side would have several questions on their fitness and form.

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“Don’t know what I make of it. The prediction 4-0 (with one wash-out), it is quite difficult to win in Australia for any side. Australia has to be the massive favorite. The question really was which team is under pressure, and I guess that is Australia because they have question marks over their team, their captain, and his fitness.” Broad expressed on the podcast with Jos Buttler.

Stuart Broad Calls The Current Australia Test Side Worst Since 2011 

England’s last Ashes series win down under came in 2010/11 under the captaincy of Andrew Strauss. Hard to believe, but since then England have lost 13 of the 15 red-ball games in Australia, with two games ending in a draw. That would be a horrible record, living rent-free in the heads of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, who doesn’t have sweet memories for New Zealand in those conditions.

“It is probably the worst Australian team since 2010, and it is the best England team since 2010, and those things match up. Australia has been so consistent with their plans and approach, and they don’t have that anymore. It is quite a similar situation to 2010/11, when Australia were confused.” Broad added.

England would look to be aggressive with the bat in this Ashes, as they were at home in 2023. But it will all depend on their bowlers’ performance in taking key wickets in various phases of the game. They drew their last Test series at home against India by a 2-2 margin.

Australia has suffered a major setback ahead of the upcoming home Test series in the Ashes 2025-26 against England. Captain Pat Cummins is injured, dealing with a stress injury in his back, and his recovery might take longer than expected.

According to the latest Pat Cummins injury update, the 32-year-old fast bowler is almost certain to miss the Ashes opener in Perth on November 21 and could be unavailable for most or all of the Ashes 2025-26 series. Vice-captain Steve Smith is expected to lead the Australia Test squad if Cummins remains unfit.

Cummins had already missed the recent T20I series in New Zealand and will also sit out the upcoming home white-ball series against India. Over the years, he has been Australia’s most valuable Test cricketer, taking 309 wickets at an average of 22.10 and guiding the team to two consecutive World Test Championship finals, winning one in 2023.

Australia still has strong fast-bowling depth for the England tour of Australia, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland almost certain to feature in the Ashes squad. Several other pace bowlers have also impressed in recent Sheffield Shield and domestic red-ball matches.

Here are three fast bowlers who could replace Pat Cummins in the Ashes 2025-26 if the Australian captain is ruled out of the series.

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1. Michael Neser

South African-born Michael Neser knows how to play in a home Ashes series. He debuted for Australia in the 2021 home Ashes. However, the 35-year-old has played only two red-ball games for Australia despite being in contention for a long time.

Michael Neser has been in outstanding form in domestic red-ball cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025-26. The Queensland pacer took six wickets in his team’s Sheffield Shield 2025-26 opener against Tasmania.

In the previous 2024-25 season, Neser claimed 31 wickets in seven matches at an impressive average of 20.90, including two five-wicket hauls underlining his consistency in Australia’s first-class setup.

During the Australia A vs India A series, Michael Neser showcased his control and accuracy by dismissing key batters like Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Devdutt Padikkal in a fiery spell of 4/27.

A reliable lower-order contributor, Neser’s ability with the bat also strengthens his case as a potential Pat Cummins replacement in the Australia Test squad. Across 114 first-class matches, the Australian all-rounder has taken 405 wickets at an average of 23.74 and scored valuable runs with a batting average of 28.54, making him a strong candidate for the Ashes 2025-26 series.

2. Henry Thornton

South Australia’s Henry Thornton has emerged as one of the promising fast bowlers in domestic cricket, strengthening his case for Ashes 2025-26 selection. The 28-year-old impressed for Australia A in their recent red-ball series against India A, showing his ability to generate pace and movement.

After missing the first match, Henry Thornton made an immediate impact in the second unofficial Test, taking four wickets in the first innings with figures of 4/36 in 10 overs. He also performed well during the home Australia A vs Sri Lanka A series in July, further showcasing his consistency.

In the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 season, Thornton picked up 17 wickets in just four games at an average of 23.33. A handy lower-order batter with a first-class average above 20, Thornton adds balance to the Australia Test squad and stands out as a strong Pat Cummins replacement option for the Ashes 2025-26 series.

3. Brendan Doggett

Queensland pacer Brendan Doggett, 31, has been in impressive form in domestic red-ball cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025-26. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 177 wickets in 44 first-class matches at an average of 27.32, consistently performing for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield.

During the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield season, Doggett was among the top Australian fast bowlers, claiming 33 wickets in seven matches at an average of 24.15, including four five-wicket hauls. His standout performances for Australia A in the red-ball series against England Lions and India A, where he picked up 4/50 and 6/16, respectively, highlighted his wicket-taking ability at crucial moments.

Brendan Doggett’s pace, control, and knack for delivering match-winning spells make him a strong contender to replace Pat Cummins in the Australia Test squad for the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Who could replace Pat Cummins in the Ashes 2025-26 series?
If Pat Cummins is ruled out due to his back injury, Australia has several strong fast-bowling options. Michael Neser, Henry Thornton, and Brendan Doggett are among the leading candidates who could step into the Test squad for the Ashes 2025-26 series against England.

2. What is the latest update on Pat Cummins’ injury?
Pat Cummins has sustained a stress injury in his back and is expected to miss the opening Ashes Test in Perth on November 21. Reports suggest his recovery could take longer, putting his participation in the Ashes 2025-26 series in serious doubt.

3. Why is Michael Neser a strong replacement for Pat Cummins?
Michael Neser has been in outstanding form in domestic red-ball cricket, taking six wickets in Queensland’s Sheffield Shield 2025-26 opener and performing well for Australia A against India A. His bowling consistency and lower-order batting make him a solid replacement option for Pat Cummins.

4. How has Henry Thornton performed in recent matches?
Henry Thornton has impressed in the Australia A vs India A and Sri Lanka A series, where he took key wickets and showed great control. He also claimed 17 wickets in the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 season at an average of 23.33, strengthening his case for Ashes 2025-26 selection.

5. Why is Brendan Doggett considered a contender for the Ashes 2025-26 squad?
Brendan Doggett’s consistent red-ball performances, including 33 wickets in the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 season and strong showings for Australia A against England Lions and India A, make him a prime candidate to join the Australia Test squad if Pat Cummins is unavailable for the Ashes 2025-26.

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.

England has officially announced its 16-player squad for the Ashes 2025-26 series against Australia later this year, captained by Ben Stokes and hoping to end a long wait as the first England side to win an Ashes series on Australian soil since 2010-11.

The squad features several familiar names but also a pair of surprises. Stokes, Mark Wood, and Shoaib Bashir are fit again after injury, bolstering the batting and bowling departments in particular. The biggest change is Harry Brook being named vice-captain ahead of Ollie Pope. Pope stepped in as skipper in place of Stokes during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy when Stokes was injured, but has not retained the deputy position. Instead, he is likely to fight Jacob Bethell for the significant No. 3 batting position.

England announce strong 16-member squad for Ashes 2025-26

Will Jacks, the unexpected addition to the squad, is regarded as a smart tactical option, possibly in the role that Liam Dawson filled against India when Bashir was unavailable. That said, it also raises the question of whether England will be selective about Bashir, given the specialist spinning role in Australian conditions. 

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In terms of bowling, England is loaded with pace bowlers. Mark Wood returns to offer real pace, and alongside him are Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue. This body of pace attack seems to have performed well in the series against India, but importantly, they will have to adapt to the pitches of Australia. Matthew Potts, also a member of the squad, offers England more options in seamers.

Batting remains sound with Joe Root, Zak Crawley, and Ben Duckett as the nucleus of the top order, with Jamie Smith also an option as a keeper and batsman. Furthermore, with Ben Stokes at the helm, England will certainly be seeking to turn history on its head and retain the urn.

England squad for Ashes 2025-26:

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

Australian captain Pat Cummins has revealed that he wants to be part of all five Tests during the Ashes series at home, however, he admitted that his availability will become clearer in the coming weeks. The 32-year-old quick has not played since the tour of the Caribbean in June-July this year and is currently recovering from a 'lumbar bone stress' injury.

As a result, Cummins has been ruled out of Australia’s October white-ball assignments against New Zealand and India. Speaking on Friday, September 19, he revealed that his current focus is on gym sessions and rest to aid recovery. “There are no hard and fast plans yet. I’m still doing a bit of gym and keeping things kicking over, but with this kind of injury, it’s rest and then we’ll build back and kind of work back from the Ashes," he explained.

Despite the uncertainty, the Australian captain sounded optimistic about his progress. “Still really hopeful to be able to be part of the Ashes. But it is a little bit of a wait and see. At the moment, I’m feeling pretty good, so nothing’s changed from what it was a couple of weeks ago really," Cummins added.

Aiming for Five Tests but Keeping Options Open

Cummins reiterated that his initial goal remains to play the entire series. “The aim is five. Every summer, you kind of aim for five. This one might be a little bit different because you’re coming in a little bit different than other ones. But the starting aim is for five. Once we get closer, we’re probably going to chat through potentially more realistic situations. It’s honestly too far out to say. But the aim at the moment is to try and be ready for all of it," he said.

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The pacer further assured that he will only step onto the field if he feels physically ready. “I won’t go into a Test where I feel like I [will] break down or anything like that. I think if you’d asked me 10 years ago, I would have said I really feel like I need to play games. Now it’s centre wickets and net sessions. I’ve bowled a lot more overs. I feel like I can kind of get up to Test level pretty quickly," Cummins concluded. With the first Ashes Test scheduled at Perth Stadium from November 21, he has just over two months to get himself match-ready.

The former Australian opening batter, Matthew Hayden, has made a hilarious prediction on the former England batter, Joe Root, ahead of the Ashes 2025/26 against Australia down under. The opening game of the series will take place at the Optus Stadium in Perth on November 21, as the right-handed batter will be under pressure, having not celebrated a century down under.

Joe Root is currently the second leading run-getter in the longest format with 13543 runs in 288 innings at an average of 51.29 and a strike rate of 57.49, with the help of 66 half-centuries and 39 centuries at the best score of 262 runs. However, in Australia, he has drilled only 892 runs in 14 games at an average of 35.68 with nine fifties.

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“I will walk nude around the MCG if he doesn’t make a hundred his summer.” Hayden reckoned during a recent interaction on the ‘All over Bar The Cricket’ YouTube channel, as his daughter and presenter, Grace Hayden, requested the Yorkshire batter to notch up a red-ball century.

Matthew Hayden makes hilarious prediction on Joe Root ahead of Ashes 2025/26

In his overall record against Australia, Root has clubbed 2428 runs in the 34 red-ball encounters at an average of 40.46, scoring four centuries and 17 half-centuries. Apart from that, he has recorded over 3300 runs in 64 innings against India in Tests at an average of nearly 60 and a strike rate of 55, thanks to 13 centuries and 12 half-centuries.

Root has found the bowling of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood challenging. But Cummins is currently recovering from a back injury, and he could get ruled out for the first three encounters of the series. This could be a good chance for the batter, who was in excellent touch during the home red-ball series against India.

For him and a few veterans, it could be the last Ashes trip. England haven’t won a single Test, let alone a series, against Australia down under since earning the urn in 2010/11 under Andrew Strauss’ captaincy. It will be high time for them to turn the tables, and Root will be their key man with the bat.

Australia have faced a massive challenge ahead of the home white-ball series against India at home and the following Ashes 2025/26 as their red-ball captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out of the white-ball series and is expected to be under the scanner for the England series after a scan revealed lumbar bone stress in his lower back. 

That means Cummins won’t play any cricket for Australia ahead of the Ashes, which start on November 21 in Perth. His bowling workloads are considered significant as he missed the five T20Is against West Indies and both white-ball series against the Proteas. Meanwhile, he has been cleared of any fracture in his lower spine.

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The New South Wales-pacer was out of the red-ball series due to stress fracture across the first six years of his international career and didn’t feature in a Test match between his debut in 2011 and his second Test in India in 2017. Since that time, he has faced various issues, including the hamstring issue and ankle injury.

Australia sweats over Pat Cummins’ injury status ahead of home Ashes 2025/26

In each of the three calendar years, Cummins had bowled 400-plus overs in cricket but had bowled only 175.1 overs in the nine months of 2025, with 95.1 overs coming across the four Tests in June and July against South Africa in June during the WTC final and the away West Indies series in the Caribbean. Even with a possible Shield game and the four Ashes, he isn’t expected to complete 400 overs by the end of this year.

“Cummins was rested from the recent T20 series against the West Indies and South Africa. Despite this planned de-load period, Cummins has experienced some ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies Test tour.” The Cricket Australia statement expressed.

“Further investigation has identified a level of lumbar bone stress that will require further management over the coming months. Cummins won't be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation.” The statement added.

The experienced left-arm pacer for Australia, Mitchell Starc, has decided to call it a time from the shortest format of the game to prioritize the heavy Test schedule next year and the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. The 35-year-old last featured in the format during the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and was part of the T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE. 

Starc is the second leading wicket-taker for Australia in the shortest format of the game. The New South Wales bowler has picked up 79 wickets in 65 innings at an average of under 24 and a strike rate of 18.45 with an economy rate of 7.74, thanks to his best bowling figures of 4/20 in an inning.

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“Test cricket is and has always been my highest priority. I have loved every minute of every T20 game I have played for Australia, particularly the 2021 World Cup, not just because we won but the incredible group and the fun along the way.” Starc expressed his thoughts on his T20I retirement for Australia.

Mitchell Starc announces T20I retirement for Australia due to heavy Test schedule

From the middle of 2026, the current WTC runners-up will face a hectic schedule with a home Test series against Bangladesh at home before a tour of South Africa and a four-match red-ball series against New Zealand, and another five Tests away in India in January 2027, followed by the one-off 150th anniversary against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and then an away Ashes 2027.

“Looking ahead to an away Indian Test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I feel this is my best way forward to remain fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns. It also gives the bowling group time to prepare for the T20 World Cup in the matches leading into that tournament.” Starc addressed the decision.

“Mitch should be incredibly proud of his T20 career for Australia. He was an integral member of the 2021 World Cup-winning side and, as across all his cricket, had a great skill for blowing games open with his wicket-taking ability.” The chairman of the selectors for Australia, George Bailey, reckoned.