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

Kathmandu – Australian captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match due to a back injury.

With his exit, Steven Smith will lead Australia in the first Ashes Test against England, starting in Perth on November 21. Losing their influential captain and key fast bowler is a big blow for Australia.

Cummins is likely to return to the team for the second Ashes Test, which begins in Brisbane on December 4. With less than a month to go before the much-anticipated series begins, Cummins has yet to start bowling as he continues to recover from a back strain he suffered during the West Indies tour in June.

Scott Boland is likely to replace Cummins in the first Ashes Test. Boland took a hat-trick in the last match against the West Indies.

Smith has captained Australia six times in Cummins’ absence since 2021, winning five of them.