Pat Cummins Faces Uncertainty Ahead of Ashes 2025-26 Opener. Australian captain Pat Cummins is recovering from a stress injury in his lower back and is highly likely to miss the first Test of The Ashes 2025-26. The right-arm pacer, who has been battling this injury since September, could even be sidelined for the entire series if he fails to regain full fitness in time.
Pat Cummins sustained a lumbar bone stress in his lower back during the Test series against the West Indies. The injury also forced him out of the upcoming home white-ball series against India, with Mitchell Marsh stepping in as ODI captain in his place.
Latest updates indicate that Pat Cummins has resumed running but requires more time before he can return to full bowling practice. With just about a month remaining before the Ashes series kicks off, the clock is ticking for the Australian skipper to recover ahead of the highly anticipated clash against England.
Steve Smith Set to Lead Australia in Ashes 2025-26 if Pat Cummins Misses Out
Australia could face a significant setback if Pat Cummins is ruled out of the Ashes 2025-26, but the team has a reliable fallback in Steve Smith. Australian chief selector George Bailey confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that Smith will captain the side in Cummins’ absence.
“If Pat doesn’t play, Smudge [Steve Smith] will captain. That’s business as usual for us. That formula has worked. Steve landed and was at Cricket NSW the next day batting. He’ll do his thing. We’ve tried to tailor everyone’s prep to suit them and certain obligations around that, but very comfortably he’ll be ready to go,” Bailey explained.
Bailey also noted that Cummins, even if sidelined, will remain involved with the team and provide guidance.
“Regardless of whether he’s playing, Pat’s keen to be around because if he’s not playing he’ll be rehabbing, getting ready, and bowling, so he’ll be with the team anyway. That information flow and working together as captain and vice-captain will remain the same,” he added.
Meanwhile, Smith has returned from New York and resumed batting practice at Cricket New South Wales headquarters. The right-handed batter is preparing to represent New South Wales in the next two rounds of the Sheffield Shield 2025-26.
Earlier this year, Smith retired from ODI cricket after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Since the start of the year, he has been in excellent Test form, averaging 51.50 with two centuries and two fifties across six matches.