Pat Cummins ruled out of first Ashes Test, with Steve Smith to captain Australia

Pat Cummins is officially out of the first Ashes Test as he continues his recovery from a stress injury in his back, with Steve Smith to reassume the captaincy of Australia in the series opener against England next month.

Cummins has not bowled since Australia’s 3-0 series defeat of West Indies in July and had been in serious doubt for the match in Perth on 21 November. After months of speculation over whether he would recover in time, Cricket Australia on Monday finally confirmed that the quick would have to sit out the game at Optus Stadium.

The 32-year-old’s acumen with the ball in hand and his presence as a leader on the field will be sorely missed, and with uncertainty remaining over when he will be able to feature again, his absence comes as a blow to Australia’s hopes of retaining the Ashes urn.

The 32-year-old has resumed running and “expects to return to bowling shortly”, CA said on Monday, although an exact date has not been put on any return to full fitness.

Cummins has previously indicated he would like a full four weeks of bowling before returning to the starting XI, meaning the second Test in Brisbane starting on 4 December would be a realistic target, if he can resume bowling in the next week or so.

Smith, who was stripped of the captaincy in the wake of the sandpaper scandal in 2018, has since filled in for Australia six times as Cummins’s vice-captain since the bowler assumed the role in November 2021. Smith boasts a better batting average as captain (68.98), compared with when not in the role (49.9).

Cummins’s absence likely paves the way for the Victorian quick Scott Boland to come into the team and partner Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for the first Test at least. Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, was to speak to media in Canberra later on Monday.