Pat Cummins | DD News

November 20, 2025 12:51 PM

Composed Steve Smith ready to lead Australia into Ashes fire

Steve Smith cut a relaxed figure when he named the Australia team for the opening clash in his ninth and possibly final Ashes series on Thursday, a far cry from the perpetual angst that used to be his hallmark at the crease. An injury to Pat Cummins means Smith will captain his country in a stand-in capacity for the seventh time since losing the permanent job in 2018 for his part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. Smith will undoubtedly face jibes over that incident from the travelling En...

November 19, 2025 1:56 PM

England eye rare Ashes chance against depleted Australia

England head into Friday’s Ashes opener in Perth with a spring in their step and a golden opportunity to strike the first blow in the five-test series against an Australian team rocked by key injuries. England have not won a first Ashes test in Australia in nearly 40 years, nor beaten the hosts in Perth since 1978, but their opponents are vulnerable without front-line quicks Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Not in selectors’ darkest nightmares would the home side ever face the first “Bazb...

November 6, 2025 1:27 PM

Australia captain Pat Cummins targets return in second Ashes test

Australia captain Pat Cummins is back bowling multiple overs on a reduced run-up and has targeted returning to the team for the second Ashes test against England, a day-nighter in Brisbane starting on December 4. The fast bowler has been sidelined by a lower-back issue since July and has already been ruled out of the series opener in Perth, where he will be replaced as skipper by Steve Smith. Scott Boland is expected to step in for the 32-year-old in the pace attack in Perth but Cummins said h...

October 29, 2025 2:53 PM

Australia captain Pat Cummins returns to bowling in buildup to Ashes

Australia captain Pat Cummins has eased back into bowling in his rehabilitation from a lower-back injury as he scrambles to be fit for the second Ashes test against England. Cummins was ruled out of the series-opener in Perth starting on November 21 but hopes to be available for the following match in Brisbane two weeks later. The 32-year-old paceman bowled off a short run-up in the nets at Cricket New South Wales' training base on Tuesday as staff watched on. Australia head coach Andrew McDo...

October 27, 2025 12:39 PM

Pat Cummins to miss first Ashes Test, Steve Smith to lead Australia in Perth

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is set to miss the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a back stress injury, the International Cricket Council (ICC) stated on Monday. In his absence, star batter Steve Smith will lead the side for the opening Test, with Cummins now aiming to regain fitness ahead of the second Test in Brisbane, scheduled to begin on December 4. Cummins has been managing a back injury in recent weeks, and Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that he will not recover in time to take part ...

October 13, 2025 11:44 AM

“Probably less likely than likely”: Pat Cummins gives injury update ahead of Ashes

Australia captain Pat Cummins has expressed cautious optimism about his return to competitive cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025 series against England, despite being several weeks away from bowling on the turf. Cummins has been managing a back injury and has yet to resume full bowling training ahead of the first Test, scheduled in Perth on November 21. “I’d say probably less likely than likely, but we’ve still got a bit of time. I’m running today and running every second day, gradually i...

October 10, 2025 12:35 PM

Australia coach not ruling Pat Cummins out of Ashes opener yet

Australia coach Andrew McDonald conceded on Friday that captain Pat Cummins was running out of time to be fit for the first Ashes test next month but said he had not yet been ruled out. A back stress injury has cast doubt on the 32-year-old's participation in the Ashes series, which starts on November 21, with the paceman yet to resume bowling in his rehabilitation period. McDonald said those suffering from back stress injuries experience "ebb and flow" in their recovery but that Cummins was f...

October 8, 2025 12:14 PM

Australia captain Pat Cummins in danger of missing entire Ashes after fresh scans: report

Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to miss the Ashes opener in Perth and could potentially be sidelined for the entire five-Test series against England. This comes after the latest scans revealed that a back stress injury has not fully healed, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The 32-year-old pacer has been dealing with back soreness since Australia’s tour of the Caribbean in July. Recent scans confirmed a lumbar bone stress in the affected area. He has been told that while the stress “...

September 17, 2025 3:16 PM

Australia captain Cummins will play big part in Ashes, says coach

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald is confident injured captain Pat Cummins will be fit to play a major role in the Ashes even if he does not feature in all five matches of the series. The fast bowler is recovering from a lower back injury that has troubled him since Australia's tour of the West Indies earlier this year. "We have got time. If it happened any closer (to the Ashes) then you would have to be making key decisions around what it all looks like," McDonald told Australian radio sta...

September 2, 2025 1:28 PM

Pat Cummins’ back injury deals a blow to Australia’s Ashes preparations

Australia's preparations for their Ashes defence have taken a hit with captain Pat Cummins struggling with a lower back issue and given no return-to-play timeline. The 32-year-old fast bowler has been ruled out of upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed signs of lumbar bone stress. Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Tuesday that Cummins had lingering back pain from the West Indies tour and the injury would require ongoing management in the lead-up to the ...