Cummins suffers injury setback, to miss white-ball matches vs NZ and India

Pat Cummins will be eased through Australia's build-up to the home Ashes, starting November, after scans revealed 'a level of lumbar bone stress' to the back. Cricket Australia stated that the all-rounder 'will require further management', and has been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand (in October) and India (in October-November).

The issue surfaced during routine assessments following Australia's WTC Final and the tour of West Indies earlier this year. Cricket Australia confirmed the scans did not return a fracture but the bone stress was significant enough to demand rest and rehabilitation.

The 32-year-old has shouldered a heavy Test load since assuming leadership in November 2021. He has missed only two Tests due to injury in that period, leading Australia to the World Test Championship title, retaining the Ashes in England and lifting the ODI World Cup last year. His durability has been a cornerstone of Australia's success, particularly across the last two Ashes campaigns where he featured in almost every Test. After bowling 95.1 overs in four Tests in the UK and the Caribbean recently, the 32-year-old experienced back pain

Cummins has been one of Australia's most durable performers in recent times, but has a long history with back injuries. The early years of his career were repeatedly halted by stress fractures in the back, delaying his return to the format after his sensational debut in 2011. Since making a full comeback in 2017, Cummins has been ever-present in Australia's attack, and has missed just one of the last 20 Tests against England.

Should Cummins not regain full fitness in time for the Ashes opener in Perth, Australia will likely turn to Scott Boland to replace him in the attack while Steve Smith will take over captaincy, like he did in Sri Lanka earlier this year.