Cummins' Ashes fitness fears grow - how big a loss would he be?

Australia are yet to make a determination connected Pat Cummins' information successful nan Ashes, amid reports their skipper could miss nan series.

Local media reported connected Wednesday nan 32-year-old will miss nan first Test successful Perth connected 21 November and is doubtful for nan full bid arsenic caller scans showed his backmost accent problem had not yet healed.

However, nan Australia campy has indicated Cummins remains successful rehabilitation and nary telephone has been made connected his position for nan first Test.

Australia person not offered an charismatic update connected Cummins' fitness.

Former Australia opener and coach Justin Langer said Cummins remains optimistic he will play a cardinal domiciled successful nan Ashes, and that he was amazed by headlines suggesting he whitethorn miss nan full series.

"In his mind thing has changed since he was first diagnosed pursuing Australia's Test circuit to nan West Indies successful July," Langer wrote successful The West Australian, external aft speaking to Cummins.

"He, for illustration different adjacent observers of nan captain's progress, was amazed by today's headlines that he mightiness beryllium retired of nan full series.

"He remains optimistic and will do everything imaginable to beryllium ready."

Meanwhile, erstwhile England cricketer Stuart Broad said connected Instagram he "really hopes" Cummins is fit.

Broad added: "Ashes cricket is nan champion against nan best. Although him missing intends England's chances of winning spell up hugely, we want to spot Pat play.

"This is simply a immense communicative starring into nan Ashes."

Cummins was ruled retired of Australia's white-ball bid against New Zealand and India past period aft scans revealed a lumbar bony accent successful his back.

The Australian said he would beryllium "aggressive" and "take risks" successful his rehabilitation successful bid to make nan series.

Cummins has a history of backmost injuries, pinch flare-ups successful 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss 3 Australian summers successful 4 years.

In 2018, he suffered a recurrence that ruled him retired of nan Indian Premier League successful April and an October circuit of Pakistan, though he has stayed comparatively free of wounded since then.

Should Cummins miss out, he will beryllium replaced by gait bowler Scott Boland successful Australia's attack, while Steve Smith would apt skipper nan side.

Australia person held nan urn since 2018, while England are without a triumph Down Under since 2011.

England person their ain doubts complete skipper Ben Stokes, who has been troubled pinch a enarthrosis wounded since nan Test bid against India.

Durham caput coach Ryan Campbell said past period nan all-rounder had returned to training and would beryllium "ready" for nan Ashes.

It's difficult to overplay what a immense rustle it would beryllium to Australia if Pat Cummins misses immoderate aliases each of nan Ashes, akin to England being without Ben Stokes.

Cummins leads from nan beforehand successful each sense. It was nan skipper who sewage Australia complete nan statement successful nan thrilling first Test astatine Edgbaston successful 2023, erstwhile England seemed connected people for victory.

From a captaincy constituent of view, Steve Smith stepping up to lead would not beryllium a problem - he is arguably a amended tactician than Cummins. Scott Boland waits arsenic nan reserve seamer and has a prolific grounds successful Australia, but Cummins is 1 of nan premier accelerated bowlers successful nan world.

Indeed, nan taxable of accelerated bowling will predominate nan build-up to nan series. England person named their astir dispute group of gait bowlers to circuit Australia since 1970 and will support everything crossed that nan bowlers tin get fresh and firing. Australia are now sweating complete Cummins.

If Cummins is out, Australia's resources are abruptly looking thin. Josh Hazlewood has his ain caller fittingness problems and nan accelerated Lance Morris is retired for a year. The uncapped Brendan Doggett would perchance beryllium successful statement for a call-up, while nan likes of Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson and Sean Abbott could travel into contention.

It is worthy remembering England person their ain doubts complete Stokes, who has not completed immoderate of their past 4 series.

It could beryllium that nan eventual destination of nan urn is decided by which skipper makes it connected to nan section astir often.

Cummins' wounded concerns heading into this winter's Ashes could beryllium a lawsuit of a profession astir to travel afloat circle - but not successful nan measurement Australia's skipper will person wanted.

He made his debut arsenic an 18-year-old successful 2011 against South Africa, becoming nan second-youngest subordinate successful nan world to return a five-wicket haul successful an innings astatine that time, contempt sustaining a bottommost wounded during nan match.

But his explosive debut proved to beryllium thing of a mendacious dawn. Cummins had to hold different six years to make his 2nd Test quality arsenic a young assemblage grounded to withstand nan load of accelerated bowling, suffering repeated accent fractures to his little back.

Fast-forward 14 years to nan upcoming wintertime of 2025 and backmost problems person erstwhile again resurfaced, albeit this clip arsenic "lumbar bony stress" alternatively than a fracture. He has not bowled a shot since July.

If backmost injuries person plagued Cummins' Test career, periods of fittingness person been filled pinch ebullient excellence arsenic a thoroughbred quick.

The 32-year-old, who was made Test skipper successful nan aftermath of Tim Paine's resignation soon earlier nan 2021-22 Ashes, has taken 309 Test wickets astatine an mean of 22.10.

He is moreover much formidable successful Australia, taking 177 wickets astatine 19.92, while he's besides taken 91 wickets against England successful conscionable 19 matches.

In nan astir caller Ashes bid successful 2023, Cummins played successful each 5 Tests, 1 of only 2 bowlers to do truthful on pinch Broad, taking 18 wickets.

A talismanic leader, Cummins enjoyed a glorious 2023 arsenic captain, taking six wickets successful nan triumphant World Test Championship last and starring successful nan 50-over World Cup last triumph successful Ahmedabad - some against India.

He is nan only skipper successful Test history to triumph nan World Test Championship, World Cup and an Ashes series.

Cummins is besides nan joint-fifth fastest bowler to scope 150 Test wickets, achieving nan milestone against India successful Adelaide successful 2020 successful his 31st match.