Why Has Pat Cummins Been Left Out of White-Ball Series vs IND & NZ Ahead of The Ashes?

Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the white-ball series against New Zealand and India. This call was taken by Cricket Australia to help him manage his lower back injury to be fit in time for The Ashes. The first Test vs England starts on November 21. Cummins will skip both series ahead of The Ashes so as not to impact his preparation and participation.

What Is Wrong with Pat Cummins?

According to Cricket Australia, Cummins has ‘a level of lumbar bone stress’. This comes after bowling close to 100 overs in the last four Tests. He also missed the recent white-ball series in the West Indies and the home series against South Africa. Now his injury is a major headache for the team management as it could derail his career.

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"Cummins won't be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India (or New Zealand) and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation," said Cricket Australia in an official statement.

Pat Cummins’ Consistency for Australia

Cummins has been a regular feature in the Test side since he became skipper in 2021. He has been a consistent performer for Australia in the longest format since his comeback in 2017. Under him, Australia won The Ashes in 2021-22 and retained it in 2023. He also led them to the ODI World Cup and World Test Championship Final victories in 2023. A skipper who leads by example.

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Who Will Replace Pat Cummins?

If it comes to Cummins being replaced for The Ashes then Scott Boland makes an entry into the side. Steve Smith can take up the captaincy like he did in Sri Lanka earlier this year. But what Australia do not want is to lose one of their best fast bowlers at the relatively young age of 32. Cummins can easily play another three to five years if not more. But he needs to make sure he is fit.

The Legacy of Pat Cummins

Cummins faces a race against time in order to be fit for The Ashes and in general with the T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup in the coming years. His debut was way back in 2011 as an 18-year-old. The clueless boy back then is now a battle-hardened man. When it is time for Cummins to go, which one day will happen, he will leave behind a legacy worth remembering.