Luminaries of English cricket have cast a dark shadow over the Ashes hopes of Australia captain Pat Cummins, who looks certain to miss at least the first Test of the series next month with a back stress injury.

Cummins is in a race against time to be fit to lead the Aussies against England, if not in the first Test on November 21 at Perth, then the second on December 4 in Brisbane.

Either way, he has a short runway to be ready for what could be the biggest series of his captaincy tenure.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has his doubts.

“He’s definitely not starting,” he told the Stick To Cricket podcast.

“And I’ll ask the bowler (co-host Chris Woakes) — a stress fracture is not good, is it? You’re not suddenly going to get a massage and (be) alright to play.

“That is time

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