Australia Captain Cummins Expected to Play Key Role in Ashes Despite Back Injury

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald has expressed confidence that captain Pat Cummins will play a significant role in the upcoming Ashes series despite a lumbar bone stress injury that currently sidelines him. Cummins is undergoing rehabilitation and will miss the white-ball series against New Zealand and India, but McDonald believes there is sufficient time for recovery ahead of the first Test starting November 21 in Perth. While it is unlikely Cummins will participate in all five Tests, McDonald expects him to feature prominently whenever he is fit to play. The coach emphasized cautious optimism and the evolving nature of Cummins' return, noting there is no fixed timeline and that plans do not assume fast bowlers will play every match in the series. Backup options like Scott Boland are ready to step in if needed, and Steve Smith is prepared to take over captaincy duties if Cummins is unavailable. Overall, McDonald remains hopeful that Cummins will contribute significantly to Australia's Ashes campaign despite the injury concerns.