Australia will continue to be without their regular captain, Pat Cummins, for the second Ashes 2025/26 Test, which will be a day-night contest at the Gabba in Brisbane. The selectors have picked the same 14 players who were on duty in Perth, with Josh Inglis, Michael Neser, and Beau Webster among those who failed to make it into the eleven.

Cummins bowled to Steve Smith on November 28 at the SCG and will travel to Brisbane with the team. He is likely to make his return in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, which gives him two weeks to prepare. Their opening batter, Usman Khawaja, has retained his place in the squad after back spasms in Perth.

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Travis Head’s success during the chase of Australia, where he smashed a fine knock of 123 runs off just 83 runs in the fourth innings of the game, has prompted debate about whether it should be made a permanent move.

Australia retain 14-member squad for second D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test in Brisbane

The absence of Cummins means that Brendan Doggett, who claimed five wickets in Perth, is likely to retain his place alongside the experienced duo of Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc. However, a question stands on Nathan Lyon, given he only bowled two overs in Perth and didn’t feature in Australia’s most recent pink-ball Test at the Sabina Park in Jamaica.

“I am going to control what I can control, keep ticking the legs over, and keep bowling and trying to improve in every session and game. If I get called on in that second Test, I feel like I am ready to go again.” Doggett expressed. Josh Hazlewood, who never had a chance to play in Brisbane, continued his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Australia lost their previous day-night Test at the Gabba against the West Indies, where they were blown away before the superb, fiery spell of Shamar Joseph.

Australia squad for second Ashes 2025/26 Test in Brisbane

Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have made significant progress in their recoveries, returning to bowling ahead of the second Ashes Test, which starts on December 4. Both fast bowlers had missed the opening Test in Perth, which Australia won by eight wickets. Their return to training has boosted hopes of a stronger pace attack for the upcoming matches.

The duo was seen bowling at Cricket Central in Sydney while New South Wales were facing Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield game. Hazlewood is working his way back from a hamstring injury, while Cummins has been recovering from a back issue. During the training session, Hazlewood used the red ball and Cummins bowled with the pink ball, signalling preparation for different match conditions.

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald shared updates on both players. He confirmed that Hazlewood will definitely feature at some point in the series. Regarding Cummins, McDonald said he is progressing well but the team will be careful not to rush him. The coach stressed that they want to avoid pushing Cummins too quickly and risking further injury.

McDonald Shares Injury Timeline and Selection Possibilities

"I know that he'll be available at some point during the series. We've got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series, but we expect him to take some part in the series. It looked like a player that was nearing the completion of his rehabilitation. The intensity was there, the ball speed was there. There's a lot of positives, but now it's just really building that resilience within the soft tissue and making sure that we're not putting him in harm's way in terms of accelerating it too much," stated McDonald, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

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While Cummins has a chance of returning for the pink-ball Test, Hazlewood is expected to be fully available from the third Test onward. If both return, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett are likely to make way despite their strong performances in Perth. Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler in the first Test, taking a 10-wicket match haul and earning Player of the Match for his exceptional effort.

Despite the recent injury threats, Pat Cummins is set to continue as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for the IPL 2026 season. A recent social media post of SRH has hinted about their decision to trust captain Cummins for another season. 

In the previous Indian Premier League campaign (IPL 2025), where on pen and paper SRH probably had the best batting attack, they could not even qualify for the round of four. After that it was speculated that the team management could change in the leadership role. But their recent social media post has suggested that the Australian star will continue with them as their leader. Despite the setback in IPL 2025, SRH team management holds on to their key members for another season. 

Pat Cummins has been recovering from injury, eyeing getting back into competitive matches through the 2nd Test of The Ashes. As per reports, the pacer has already started his blowing practice. In his absence, Steven Smith will lead Australia in the series opener against England from November 21. The 31-year-old took over SRH's captaincy in 2024 after being acquired for a staggering INR 20.50 crore at the auction. It will be his third consecutive season as the SRH captain. 

P.S. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 😉🧡

Pat Cummins | #PlayWithFire pic.twitter.com/r4gtlypAY9

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 17, 2025

Read More: Shubman Gill to travel to Guwahati, though 2nd Test participation remains in doubt

Sunrisers Hyderabad squad for IPL 2026 ahead of the mini auction: 

Players Retained: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari.

Players Released: Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Simarjeet Singh.

Traded Out: Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants.

Remaining Purse: Rs 25.5 crore.

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.  

Australia's buildup to its extensive ODI series with India has taken a significant hit, with a number of key players unavailable for the opening matches. Already facing a quick schedule, the Australians are in a difficult position ahead of their first match in Perth on October 19. With skipper Pat Cummins and all-rounder Cameron Green both ruled out, the Australians will have to go into the first match with a relatively inexperienced team against a full-strength Indian team. The series was always going to be a significant trial before the home summer, but this run of injuries has already raised questions about Australia's squad depth and fitness levels.

Adding further injury to insult, wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is now unavailable for the first two ODIs, while senior wicketkeeper Alex Carey and important spinner Adam Zampa are also unavailable for the first match. Zampa is a significant loss for the Australians, particularly given India's impressive record against pace at home and abroad. With Carey now unavailable, the Australians will need to recast their wicketkeeping and middle-order combinations, which will place greater pressure on players such as Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to anchor the innings.

This unforeseen injury situation might result in the Australian management providing opportunities for fringe players and domestic performers. Players in the frame could include the likes of Matthew Short, Ben McDermott, and Aaron Hardie. The objective now will be to keep a balance in the side—a difficult task while playing in India given the need for flexibility and adaptation. 

🚨 AUSTRALIA IN BIG TROUBLE IN ODIs vs INDIA 🚨

- Pat Cummins ruled out.
- Cameron Green ruled out.
- Josh Inglis ruled out of the first 2 ODIs.
- Adam Zampa not available for the 1st ODI.
- Alex Carey not available for the 1st ODI. pic.twitter.com/MrP8KA0CT8

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 17, 2025

Also Read: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2025: OMN vs JPN Dream11 Prediction 20th Match

Selection Headache for Management

With several senior players missing, coach Andrew McDonald and the selectors have a real conundrum approaching the series. Identifying a combination of batting depth, all-rounders, and variety in the bowling attack will be crucial for Australia's competitiveness against a confident Indian side. The management may also decide to rest several more players in order to avoid aggravating injuries, thinking ahead to a busy home season involving Test and T20 series to play. 

Despite the absences, Australia has proven match-winners such as Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, and Josh Hazlewood, but pressure has increased on a combination of the leadership group and the young guns. Fans will be intrigued to see how the battered Australian side copes and responds to adversity against India in a fairly exciting ODI series. 

Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, will not be part of the three-match ODI series at home against India due to a back injury as he puts himself in the recovery road for the Ashes 2025-26. He highlighted that this 50-over series could be the last chance for the Australian fans to witness the former captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, with the opening game being scheduled on October 19 in Perth.

Virat Kohli and Rohit’s last competitive game came during the playoffs of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. They both featured for India during the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against New Zealand as they earned the title. That was the last time for them in the Blue Brigade before announcing their retirement from the longest format.

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“Virat and Rohit have been part of almost every Indian side for the last 15 years, so this might be the last chance for the Australian public to see them playing out here. They’ve obviously been champions of the game for India and are always very well supported. Whenever we play them, the crowd gets loud.” Cummins expressed during an interaction on JioHotstar.

Pat Cummins predicts last ODI series for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Australia

In the battles between Australia and India, Kohli and Rohit have earned success with the bat. Kohli is the second leading run-getter of the list with 2451 runs in 48 innings at an average of 54.46 and a strike rate of 93.69 with the help of eight centuries and 15 fifties. Rohit, on the other hand, has clubbed 2407 runs at an average of 57.30, thanks to eight hundreds and nine fifties.

“It’s a shame to miss the white-ball series against India. I think the crowds are going to be huge. There’s already a lot of excitement built up in Australia. So, whenever you miss a game, it’s disappointing. But missing a big series like this is always a bit harder to take.” Cummins shed light.

“It’s three matches you want to win, but it’s also about giving exposure to the younger guys coming through, particularly those who weren’t part of the last World Cup. The goal is try and play, and see what they can do.” The ODI World Cup-winning captain concluded.

Australia’s ODI World Cup-winning captain, Pat Cummins, will not feature in the upcoming three-match ODI series as he continues to recover from injury ahead of the five-match Test series against England in the Ashes 2025-26 at home. However, on Star Sports, in a recent interaction, Cummins has picked his all-time eleven for the clashes between the two sides.

Cummins has picked David Warner and Sachin Tendulkar as the two openers for the 50-over clashes. Tendulkar is the leading run-getter of the ODI format between these two teams’ battles with 3077 runs in 70 innings at an average of 44.59 and a strike rate of 84.71 with 15 fifties and nine centuries at the best score of 175. Warner has clubbed 1222 runs with three centuries and nine fifties.

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Quite surprisingly, Cummins has ignored both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the list. The duo is respectively the second and third leading run-getters in ODIs during the head-to-head with 2451 runs and 2407 runs at an average of over 50.

Watch: Pat Cummins ignores Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from his all-time AUS vs IND ODI XI

At numbers three and four, Cummins has gone with Ricky Ponting and Steve Smith, besides adding Shane Watson and Michael Bevan in he eleven. The former World Cup-winning captain of the Indian side, MS Dhoni, will keep wickets in the side and is the fifth leading run-getter in this battle with two centuries and 11 fifties for his 1660 runs.

#PatCummins crafts his all-time AUS vs IND XI, handpicking the finest stars from past! 🤩

Share your ultimate playing XI in the comments using today’s stars! ⚡🏏#AUSvIND | 1st ODI | SUN, 19th OCT, 8 AM, on Star Sports Network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/3KVZ7Ygtd7

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 15, 2025

In the bowling line, apart from India’s Zaheer Khan, Cummins has gone with Brett Lee, Shane Warne, and Glenn McGrath. Lee is the leading wicket-taker of the list with 55 wickets at an average of 21 with four five-wicket hauls.

Warne has only 15 wickets in 13 ODI innings at an average of around 35 against India. Cummins has still got him in the eleven. The upcoming ODI series will begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Pat Cummins’ all-time IND vs AUS ODI XI

David Warner, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Shane Watson, Michael Bevan, MS Dhoni (wk..), Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Zaheer Khan, and Glenn McGrath.

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.

Just when calls are made to privatize the Big Bash League (BBL), it has been revealed that the World Cup winning Australian captain, Pat Cummins, and his deputy, Travis Head, were offered nearly INR 58 crore ($10 million) a year to feature in the T20 Leagues around the world full time including the Indian Premier League (IPL) as it brings the fear of several early retirements. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that an IPL side made the offer this year, to which both Cummins and Travis Head rejected the offer as they cited their commitment to the national side. But the news of offers was discussed between Cricket Australia (CA), the state associations, and the players’ union as they look to privatize their franchise T20 leagues.

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The top Australian players currently earn $1.5 million a year from their national contracts, while for Cummins, the price is $3 million due to his leadership responsibilities. The money from the BBL would increase the player salaries, which would also link the T20 league into a growing network globally.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head reject $10M to leave Australia for T20 leagues

Cummins’ auction value for the Sunrisers Hyderabad last year was around $3.7 million, while Head grabbed $1.2 million at the same team. The latter revealed his views on his SRH teammate, Heinrich Klassen’s decision to retire from international cricket and feature in franchise cricket only.

“I spent a lot of time with Klaasen over a period of time while he was making decisions. I don't think there's any written rule on what you should or shouldn't play or what you should or shouldn't give up. There's an idea of what people should think, and what they should do. Playing international cricket is the pinnacle. A lot of people hold it so high in regard, but some people don't.” Head expressed.

“What's happening in the world at the moment is people have opportunities to make those decisions, which we've never had [before]. So it's hard to knock someone who is making a decision in their own personal state and trying to get job satisfaction. Fair play.” The left-handed batter addressed.

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.