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Australia captain Pat Cummins is in a race against time to be fit ahead of the opening match of the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26, slated to commence on November 21 at Optus Stadium in Perth.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins underwent scans on Monday morning.
According to the report, Cricket Australia’s (CA) chief medical officer, alongside the team doctor and physio, will take time to discuss the scan results.
Moreover, Pat Cummins’s back trouble could rule him out of all the white-ball fixtures that will be played before the first Ashes Test. The star pacer is also unlikely for the T20 squad against New Zealand.
“Depending on the seriousness of Cummins’ back trouble, he may miss all the white ball games that precede the first Ashes Test in Perth in late November and could also need to avoid playing a Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales,” the report said.
“As it is, he will be missing from the Twenty20 squad that will be named on Tuesday to tour New Zealand,” it added.
Subsequently, Cummins is likely to be fit for the start of the Ashes, having previously undergone similar scans last summer before the Border-Gavaskar series.
Pat Cummins’ injury concerns arose during the West Indies tour, where he played all three Test matches. Overall, the right-arm pacer has bowled 85 overs across four Tests, including the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.
After his absence, ace batter Steve Smith could be in line for captaincy due to his vast experience under his belt.
For context, Pat Cummins has a longstanding problem with back injuries during the early stages of his career.
After making his Test debut in 2011, Cummins missed six years of cricket. However, in recent times, the fast bowler has been pivotal in Australia’s success.
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