Australia's cricket captain, Pat Cummins, has been officially ruled out of the second Ashes Test against England, dealing a significant blow to the hosts as they head to Brisbane for the day/night encounter.
Cricket Australia confirmed the news by naming an unchanged 14-man squad, leaving the 32-year-old fast bowler on the sidelines for the second consecutive match.
Cummins' Fitness Battle and Squad Decision
Cummins missed the first Test in Perth, a two-day victory for Australia, due to an ongoing back issue. Despite appearing to make positive strides in his recovery—bowling sharply in the nets and even delivering to stand-in skipper Steve Smith during a practice session in Sydney—the decision was made to exclude him from the squad for the Gabba Test.
The announcement was made without detailed explanation, with a brief statement noting only that 'Pat Cummins will travel to Brisbane to continue his preparations.' The squad is set to assemble in Queensland from Sunday, leaving a slim possibility, though considered irregular, for a late addition.
A Major Boost for England's Hopes
The continued absence of the world-class seamer represents a substantial advantage for the English side. While Mitchell Starc was the player of the match in Perth with a 10-wicket haul, Cummins' record in day/night Test cricket is formidable.
He sits joint-second for most wickets in day/night Tests with 43 scalps, having played five fewer matches than Starc, who leads with 81. Cummins boasts a stunning average of 17.34 and a strike-rate of a wicket every 37.2 balls. His best figures of 6 for 23 were also achieved at the Gabba in 2019, underscoring the scale of his loss for Australia.
Other Squad News and Selection Questions
With Josh Hazlewood also still unavailable, the pace bowling duties will once again fall to Mitchell Starc, supported by Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland.
Meanwhile, opener Usman Khawaja has been retained in the squad despite suffering back spasms during the first Test that limited his involvement. His condition forced Travis Head to open the batting in the fourth innings, where he played a match-winning role.
Khawaja's place in the final XI is now under scrutiny, especially with Josh Inglis pressing his case after scoring a century against the England Lions. All-rounder Beau Webster also provides an additional seam-bowling option for the selectors.
