Australia captain Cummins ruled out of first Ashes Test

Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England in Perth next month, head coach Andrew McDonald said on Monday. 

McDonald said Cummins had "run out of time" as he recovers from a lower back injury, and that veteran batter Steve Smith would lead the side in his absence.

Australia are clinging to hope the pace spearhead will be ready for the second match of the Five-Test series.

"We've grappled with it for a little while, and the nature of the injury is that you grapple with it day-by-day," McDonald told reporters. 

"We're really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match. 

"He'll be back bowling this week, that's a huge step."

But McDonald conceded Australia were unable to give a firm timeframe for Cummins' return.

The 32-year-old has not played since picking up a lower back injury in a Test match against the West Indies in July.

McDonald said Australia were "incredibly fortunate" to call on the experienced Smith in Cummins' absence.

Scott Boland looms as the likely replacement, joining fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

"Losing your captain is not ideal, but when you're talking about Scott Boland as a potential replacement -- it's not a bad position to be in," McDonald said.

Cummins' race to prove his fitness has become a major storyline leading up to the first Test, starting in Perth on November 21.

"I'm still doing a bit of gym and keeping things kicking over, but with this kind of injury, it's rest and then we'll build back and kind of work back from the Ashes," he said in September.

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"Still really hopeful to be able to be part of the Ashes. But it is a little bit of a wait and see."

Cummins has suffered serious back issues several times over the years, including a flare-up in 2018 that kept him out of action for a full off-season.

- Woeful record -

England are bringing a pace-heavy attack for the series, spearheaded by Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood.

Former fast bowler Stuart Broad stoked the bitter rivalry between the two sides earlier this month when he claimed Australia were fielding their weakest line-up in 15 years.

"It's probably the worst Australian team since 2010 when England last won (in Australia), and it's the best English team since 2010," Broad, now working as a pundit, told the BBC.

"It's actually not an opinion, it's fact." 

But the reality remains that England have an appalling record playing in Australia.

Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2023 after the series ended in a 2-2 draw. 

They beat England 4-0 at home in 2021-22 when Cummins was the leading bowler with 21 wickets at an average of 18.

The 2010-11 series, taken by the tourists 3-1, is the only Ashes in Australia since 2002-03 in which England have even won a Test.

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