England had a terrible start in the second day-night Test of the Ashes 2025/26 at the Gabba in Brisbane when they lost their opening batter, Ben Duckett, on the last ball of the opening over before their number three, Ollie Pope, perished to the Mitchell Starc delivery as the horrors of the Gabba from the 2020-21 series knocked on their doors. 

However, Zak Crawley and Joe Root recovered their innings and put up a fine partnership of 117 runs for the third wicket as both activated their Bazball mode from the very first ball and attacked the home bowlers. Crawley looked good for his attacking knock of 76 runs in 93 balls at a strike rate of 81.72 with the help of 11 boundaries, as the pressure was shifted on the hosts. 

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But Michael Neser was able to break the stand with the wicket of Crawley on 76 runs when the opening batter looked to pull the ball but got an under-edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper, Alex Carey. The home crowd was delighted with the return of the Kent batter.

Watch: Michael Neser breaks Zak Crawley’s aggression for 76 during 2nd D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test

It was the third-highest score from an England opening batter following a pair in the previous Test. The former captain, Michael Atherton, got 108 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in 1999, while Geoff Pullar got 83 runs against India at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai during the 1961 trip.

#zakcrawley out #ashes25 pic.twitter.com/geSJA5ZB4A

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) December 4, 2025

After Crawley’s dismissal, Root celebrated his 10th half-century in the Test matches in Australia. It was his 67th half-century in the five-day format, which puts him just behind the former Indian captain, Sachin Tendulkar, who ended with the landmark 68 times in his 24-year-long career.

Harry Brook came with the same aggression and raced away to 24 runs at run-a-ball. The Yorkshire duo put 44 runs in 48 balls for the fourth wicket stand as England crossed the 165-run mark for the loss of three wickets in 34 overs.

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 A’s Michael Neser put on an impressive performance against India A in the second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, only to be struck by injury midway through his fiery spell. The seamer made an instant impact with the ball, reducing India A to a precarious 4-0 within the first three overs of the day. His exceptional opening spell was capped by a sensational double-wicket maiden, taking the wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan in quick succession. Following that, Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed cheaply, leaving India A in deep trouble early in their innings.

Neser’s brilliant spell derailed by injury

However, in the midst of his remarkable performance, disaster struck. After sending down just 12 deliveries in his 13th over, Neser felt discomfort in his left hamstring. Cricket Australia confirmed that he would not take any further part in the game. The injury cut short a blistering performance that had put India A on the backfoot, leaving Australia A in a strong position.

Can Neser recover in time for Border-Gavaskar trophy?

Despite the early injury, there remains hope for Neser’s participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is highly unlikely that he will feature in the series opener in Perth, as the gap between the first and second Tests is just 10 days. However, this short recovery window could allow Neser to recover and be available for the remainder of the series. Furthermore, his inclusion could help manage the workload of Australia’s key pacers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

This is not the first time Neser has struggled with injury. A similar issue occurred during his last Sheffield Shield appearance, leading to his absence from a One-Day Cup match soon after. At the time, he attributed the discomfort to running on an outfield made harder by extra sand due to the Australian Football season. His claims were supported by fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, both of whom have faced similar issues with cramps and heavy legs.

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Despite the injury setback, Australia A finished Day 1 on top, dismissing India A for just 161 runs. The early breakthroughs from Neser, though cut short, were pivotal in the collapse of India A's top order. In response, Australia A had some early setbacks with the dismissals of Nathan McSweeney and Cameron Bancroft, but they were still in a strong position, ending the day 108 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

While Michael Neser’s injury is a blow to Australia A's progress in the second unofficial Test, the team remains hopeful that he will recover in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His superb performance against India A showcased his potential to be a key player in Australia’s fast-bowling attack. With a 10-day gap before the second Test, there’s a possibility that Neser could return, ensuring his place in the squad to help Australia compete at the highest level. In the meantime, Australia A will look to capitalize on their strong position and complete a dominant performance against India A.