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Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England in Perth next month, head coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday.
McDonald said Cummins had “run out of time” as he recovers from a lower back injury, and that veteran batter Steve Smith would lead the side in his absence.
Australia are clinging to hope the pace spearhead will be ready for the second match of the Five-Test series.
“We’ve grappled with it for a little while, and the nature of the injury is that you grapple with it day-by-day,” McDonald told reporters. “We’re really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.”
“He’ll be back bowling this week, that’s a huge step.”
But McDonald conceded Australia were unable to give a firm timeframe for Cummins’ return.
The 32-year-old has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a Test match against the West Indies in July.
McDonald said Australia were “incredibly fortunate” to call on the experienced Smith in Cummins’ absence.
Scott Boland looms as the likely replacement, joining fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
“Losing your captain is not ideal, but when you’re talking about Scott Boland as a potential replacement — it’s not a bad position to be in,” McDonald said.
Cummins’ race to prove his fitness has become a major storyline leading up to the first Test, starting in Perth on November 21.
“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 said in September.
“Still really hopeful to be able to be part of the Ashes. But it is a little bit of a wait-and-see.”
Pat Cummins has suffered serious back issues several times over the years, including a flare-up in 2018 that kept him out of action for a full off-season.
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