The Ashes 2025: Australia captain Pat Cummins ruled out of the first Test

Australia have confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will not be available for the first Ashes Test, with Steve Smith set to lead the team in his absence.

Talisman fast bowler Cummins is suffering from a back injury and said earlier this month that it was “unlikely” he would feature in the first Test in Perth on November 21.

Cricket Australia said on Sunday that the 32-year-old – who has not played since July – has yet to return to bowling, with the series opener now less than a month away.

Cummins is expected to be able to bowl “soon”, with the aim of being fit for the second Test in Brisbane, which begins on December 4.

It is a huge blow for Australia to lose their influential captain and premier fast bowler.

Reports of fitness doubts first emerged in September, after which Cummins was ruled out of the white-ball series against New Zealand and India with a lumbar stress fracture.

Speaking a fortnight ago, Cummins said time was starting to get “tight” for the first Test, as he needed at least a month in the nets to be fit for the match.

Cummins was appointed captain on the eve of the final Ashes series in Australia in 2021-22. The home side won 4-0 despite Cummins missing the second Test due to the Covid scare.

He led Australia to win the World Test Championship and World Cup in 2023, the same year the Ashes series in the UK was drawn 2-2.