The Ashes countdown is well and truly on, with the first Test set to begin in Perth on the 21st of November. Before then England will play just one red-ball warm-up fixture, taking on their own Lions team in a three-day clash, also in Perth, on the 13th of November.
That limited preparation must surely worry everyone who wants Ben Stokes’ team to thrive Down Under. However, there was some good news this week – at least we think there was (!) – when it was announced that Aussie skipper Pat Cummins will miss the first Test.
The 32 year old quick, one of the most complete fast bowlers in the game, has been struggling with a back injury. He has missed a lot of cricket and training but it was hoped he might be back in time to lead his side for the often-crucial first clash of the series. However, on the 26th of October the hosts announced that he would miss the game.
They hope to have him back for the second Test in Brisbane on the 4th of December but there are no guarantees. In his absence, Steve Smith will be captain, while his bowling duties are most likely to be taken over by Scott Boland.
How Much of a Miss Is Cummins?
Some pundits are suggesting that this series could be decided by how many games the two respective skippers are able to get through. Stokes has struggled with injuries so much over the past five years but it is reductive to suggest that The Ashes will simply be decided by the two captains.
Cummins is naturally a huge miss for the Aussies. Rather incredibly, despite turning 33 in May next year, Cummins is one of the younger members of the Australian squad and, in fact, is the youngest of all their main frontline bowlers. Age may just be a number, but the Sydney native also boasts 71 Tests and a massive 309 wickets at an average of just 22.10.
He is currently ranked fourth in the ICC Test rankings and, largely down to his excellence with the ball, is also ranked he format’s fourth-best all-rounder too. He is certainly handy with the bat and lower-order runs could be crucial in what may be a tight series. He has spent a long time atop the bowler rankings and his skill, accuracy and still-decent pace make him a huge asset to this side.
More than some of the other key quicks he would have hoped to line up alongside, he offers control and is hard to score against. For an England team that likes to feel the bat on ball, and rack up rapid runs, his nagging line and length can create frustration and lead to wickets.
As a captain, he leads by example. Not overly demonstrative, he has a presence and an aura that means he often lets his bowling do the talking. Having captained the team 37 times with an impressive win-rate of over 62%, he is both vastly experienced and very successful. Australians will be desperate he can return to action for the Gabba and he has to be ranked a huge miss for them.
But Brilliant Boland an Able Replacement
It is believed that 36 year old Boland will stand in for his skipper in Perth. He lacks the pace of Cummins and the variation but he is also incredibly hard to score off and will offer a similar degree of control. He is not as good with the willow in hand, so the hosts will undoubtedly suffer in that regard. But with the ball, and in home conditions, his stats stand up to comparison with just about anyone.
Were it not for the incredible “big three” of the past 10 years or so of Australian bowling, he would surely have earnt more than his current haul of 14 Test caps. Those matches have brought 62 wickets at just 16.53, with a tidy strikerate of 36 and an economy well under three runs per over. Moreover, he seems to be getting better with age.
His opportunities have been very limited and he has played just four Tests in 2024 and 2025 combined. Those games, three at home against India and one in the West Indies, have yielded 27 wickets for the Melbourne-born right-hander. If he can deliver those sorts of numbers again, he could well press claims to feature at least twice in the series, with both sides expected to rotate bowlers to varying degrees.
Smith No Stranger to Skipper Role
So, as good as Cummins is, from a bowling perspective Australia have a very strong replacement. But what about Captain Cummins? Once again, Australia have a very able deputy and another of their “Dad’s Army”, in 36 year old batting ace Steve Smith.
Smith is a very different leader to Cummins, and will take more risks. He is a more instinctive captain, though perhaps not as good with either the media or, sometimes, his own players. He is far more intense and will certainly engage more with the travelling party. There is no doubting his experience or suitability for the job though. He has already led Australia in 40 Tests, winning 58% of those, while he is set to win his 120th cap in Perth.
All in all, we would say that England supporters should not get too carried away by the absence of Cummins. If he was ruled out for two or more Tests it would be more of a concern, due to the age of the squad. However, as far as Perth is concerned, the Aussies have things well covered. Now bring on the cricket!
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