Steve Smith to lead in Perth with Cummins sidelined for Ashes opener

With less than a month to go for the start of the highly anticipated series, Cummins has not yet resumed bowling as he continues to recover from the back stress injury he suffered in the tour to the Caribbean back in June, this year. He was subsequently ruled out of the white-ball series against South Africa, New Zealand and India. The positive news on the fast-bowler from Cricket Australia is that he is now running and is expected to begin bowling shortly.

Cummins now faces a race against time to be fit for the second of the five-Test series to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane which commences from December 4. Speaking on the injury, head coach Andrew McDonald admitted that they have run are still optimistic of his return for the second Test in Brisbane.

"We've run out of time [to make the opener]," McDonald said. "We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take four-plus weeks to get him up and running. We've run out of time unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.

"He'll be back bowling this week, and that's a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in. We're on the journey to that that second Test match, and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome."

However, McDonald said that Cummins will travel to Perth along with the group for the first Test. "Patty will be around the group as well, he'll come to Perth... and it'll almost be one of those things where you'll see him and it'll almost be a question of, 'Why isn't he playing in Perth?' That's where we think he'll be placed by that that stage."

There was also positive news on Cameron Green, who was ruled out of the recent ODI series against India with side soreness, and has resumed bowling. He will play for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield but he has yet to receive clearance to bowl in that game.

Meanwhile, Smith is as accomplished as a Test captain can be for Australia having led the country in 40 Test matches in his career. Smith's last assignment as captain for Australia had come in February this year in a comprehensive 2-0 series win, away in Sri Lanka. Smith also averages close to 70 with the bat as Test captain which is significantly higher than his average of 50 when he is not leading the side.

On the bowling front, Australia are likely to have Scott Boland replace Cummins in the XI. Boland averages 12.63 with the ball at home and had famously torn through the England batting lineup in the 2021/22 Melbourne Test with figures of 6 for 7 in the second innings.

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