New Delhi: Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of the 2025 Ashes , with captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the opening Test match in Perth and is likely to miss the entire five-match series against England.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald , the fresh scans have revealed that his back stress injury hasn’t fully healed yet. While the 32-year-old is still confident about playing a crucial role in the series, the medical update has effectively ruled him out of the first Test, which is scheduled to start on November 21.

He hasn’t bowled since mid-July , when he suffered a lumbar bone stress (back) injury during the away test series against the West Indies , which Australia won 3-0 . With Cummins sidelined, Steve Smith is likely to take over as stan

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