Breaking!! Pat Cummins Ruled Out! Steve Smith to Captain Australia in Ashes Opener | Ashes 2025-26

Bad news for the Australian Team ahead of the Ashes 2025: captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the Ashes 2025 opener against England due to a minor injury. The Australian Cricket Board has confirmed that Steve Smith will lead the team in Cummins's absence to help the team with his leadership skills in the first test of the much-awaited series.

However, this is good news for the England Cricket Team as Australia's one of the lethal bowlers, Pat Cummins, is all set to miss the first test. The First-Test match of Ashes 2025-26 will be played from November 21 - 25, 2025, at Optus Stadium in Perth. A total of 5 test matches are part of this Ashes, and it's going to be an action-packed two months for the teams.

Pat  Cummins Injury Update:

According to Cricket Australia, Cummins suffered a lumbar stress injury in September during Australia's tour of the West Indies. Since then, Cummins has been struggling to regain full fitness. Therefore, He will not be part of the team in the first Ashes test in Perth.

As per the reports, Cummins has started running and will start bowling soon; he is under close observation. He will be part of the team but not in the playing XI for the first test match, but he will lead the side in the rest of the matches in the Ashes 2025-26.

https://x.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1982578758713503840

Steve Smith Returns as Captain:

With Cummins ruled out for the first test, Steve Smith will take over the captaincy once again. He has always been the backup captaincy option in the absence of a regular captain. Smith also led Australia in Cummins' absence during the Ashes 2021-22 in Adelaide when Cummins was ruled out due to COVID-19.

Smith has captained Australia for a long period of time and won several high-pressure matches. He is known for his cricketing and captaincy skills; however, he hasn't played any test matches in recent times. The last time they played was in July against the West Indies. 

Who will replace Cummins in the Playing XI?

Scott Boland is expected to replace Pat Cummins for the first test of the Ashes 2025-26, which is all set to start from November 21 in Perth. Along with Boland, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will also be part of the bowling unit in the first test match.