Cummins' back injury deals a blow to Australia's Ashes preparations

Australia’s preparations for their Ashes defence have taken a hit with captain Pat Cummins struggling with a lower back issue and given no return-to-play timeline.

The 32-year-old fast bowler has been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed signs of lumbar bone stress.

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Tuesday that Cummins had lingering back pain from the West Indies tour and the injury would require ongoing management in the lead-up to the five-test Ashes.

However, selectors chairman George Bailey was upbeat on Cummins’ rehabilitation prospects, saying staff expected him to be fit and ready for the series-opener in Perth from November 21.

“There’s plenty of time left — somewhere in the 80-day range,” he told reporters in a video call on Tuesday.

“Even if match time is limited, we’re confident in his experience and preparation.”

Pat Cummins has already been rested from a number of white-ball fixtures, including home Twenty20 and One Day International series against South Africa.

While the injury has not been classified as a stress fracture, it is an echo of the back concerns that hampered his early career.

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Cummins had to wait over five years for a second test following his stunning 2011 debut against South Africa when he took seven wickets in Johannesburg as an 18-year-old.

Since his return in 2017 he has become one of Australia’s most durable players, missing just two tests through injury during his tenure as captain.

Bailey said he would be confident Pat Cummins could bowl in the Ashes without any lead-in matches if necessary, but selectors were planning to rotate the quicks as required.

“When players get through five tests, credit to them and the performance team,” he said.

“But we always plan to go deeper than just the top three or four bowlers, especially from test three onwards where things get intense.”

Cummins’ absence for any part of the Ashes would be a blow for the hosts, despite Victoria paceman Scott Boland being a worthy stand-by option.

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Pat Cummins has taken 91 wickets against England from 19 tests at an average of 24.10.

In nine tests on home soil, he has been even more devastating, taking 44 wickets at an average of 21.50.

Cummins’ injury was revealed on the same day his long-standing pace teammate Mitchell Starc confirmed his retirement from T20 internationals, six months out from the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Of Australia’s great pace triumvirate, only Josh Hazlewood will join the T20 squad for the three-match series against New Zealand starting on October 1 in Tauranga.

Left-armer Ben Dwarshuis joins Hazlewood and Sean Abbott among the pacers, with Nathan Ellis missing the tour for the birth of his first child.

All-rounder Cameron Green was omitted from the 14-man squad named on Tuesday and will continue his preparations for the Ashes and a return to bowling in the domestic Sheffield Shield.