Pat Cummins to miss second Ashes Test as Australia name unchanged side

England’s hopes of squaring the Ashes were handed a boost after Australia captain Pat Cummins was left out of their squad for the second Test in Brisbane.

England were beaten by eight wickets inside two days in the series opener at Perth last week thanks to stunning bowling from Mitchell Starc and an innings for the ages from Travis Head. This represented a horrible missed opportunity because they had built a strong position by lunch on day two, but also because Australia were without both Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood.

Both men remain out of the squad for the second Test, which is unchanged. Cummins had rated himself “half a chance” to play in the second Test at the Gabba, which begins on Thursday, and will travel with the squad to Brisbane on Sunday. In theory, he could still play despite not being named in the squad, although it seems much more likely Australia will keep him on ice until the Adelaide Test on December 17.

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Captain Cummins has not played since July, when Australia toured the West Indies, due to a back stress injury that he feared would rule him out of the entire Ashes. He bowled at great pace in the nets at Perth Stadium, and it was expected he would return to the squad. In the squad announcement, Steve Smith is again listed to captain Australia.

Hazlewood had already been ruled out of the Brisbane Test. There is no timeline on his return.

Australia’s squad is unchanged, but that does not prevent major adjustments to their playing XI. Opener Usman Khawaja is under pressure for his spot due to a lean run of form and a series of back spasms that prevented him opening in either innings in Perth.

In the second innings, Head was promoted with devastating effect, but coach Andrew McDonald hinted that he would return to the middle order and be used as an opener only occasionally in the second innings as a surprise tactic. Josh Inglis, the wicketkeeper-batsman, scored a century opening for a cricket Australia XI against England Lions this week, and is another option to replace Khawaja. Australia have resisted the temptation to call up Mitch Marsh at this point, however.

There is also a possibility that Australia leave out their veteran spinner Nathan Lyon in favour of an extra seamer or all-rounder, such as Beau Webster. Queenslander Michael Neser is a possibility to come into the seam attack; both of his previous Tests are pink-ball matches.

Australia’s win in Perth has put them in a position of luxury

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So strong had Cummins looked in the Perth Stadium nets, that expectation had risen that he would play the second Test at the Gabba.

But Australia’s win in Perth has put them in a position of extreme luxury, even without two great quicks like Cummins and Hazlewood. They hold the Ashes and have a 1-0 lead. In Starc, they had the outstanding quick in the first Test. Brendan Doggett looked immediately at home and while England got on top of Scott Boland on day one, he worked his way into the series on day two. Michael Neser is waiting in the wings, and would add steel to the lower order batting and pink-ball swing.

They are also heading into a pink-ball match. Australia have a stunning record of played 15, won 14 in those, while England rarely play them. When they have, they have lost five of seven. In short, England are not out of this series, but they are already on the ropes.

Back injuries must be handled with great care by fast bowlers, and Australia and Cummins may feel they have the cattle to beat England without him. In the pink-ball second Test of the last tour, that is what happened. Halzewood was injured, and Cummins as pinged as a Covid close contact. Australia still won at Adelaide.

This time, Adelaide is the third Test. Even if Cummins does not play and England level the series, by resting up and building for the third Test, on December 17, they will be unleashing one of the great fast bowlers without any risk.

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