Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the start of the Ashes and could be ruled out of the entire series against England following an injury setback.

Cummins, the leader of Australia’s formidable bowling attack for the best part of a decade, is struggling with a back stress problem.

Speaking a month ago, Cummins said he would be ‘devastated’ to miss even the start of the Australia’s home Ashes series.

But The Age report that 32-year-old Cummins has ‘no chance’ of recovering in time for the Ashes opener in Perth on November 21.

A fresh round of scans showed his back problem had not yet healed and the injury could see him miss the entirety of the Ashes.

Cummins’ enforced absence would likely leave Steve Smith as Australia’s stand-in captain for the visit of Ben Stokes’ England.

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