Australia skipper Pat Cummins wont be part of the upcoming white-ball series against India & New Zealand due to a spike up of a lower-back issue. Cricket Australia (CA) is not ready to take any risks in naming the pacer for the white-ball assignments, considering the Ashes is set to be played by the end of November this year.
CA also confirmed on Monday, August 01, that their Test & ODI skipper would not be considered for selection for the upcoming ODIs & T20I games, following a medical scan which revealed "a level of lumber bone stress." While the blow has not been dubbed as a stress fracture, the recurring familiar back issue has prompted a very careful approach by the national team medical department.
"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," read CA’s statement.
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Why Pat Cummins won't be part of India & New Zealand series
The decision not to consider the veteran pacer is due to his challenging workload, where he bowled more than 90 overs across four Tests in England and in the series against the West Indies. This heavy bowling load is one of the primary reasons to have triggered the Australia skipper's back. CA has adopted a cautious approach, with a long five-match Ashes series against old nemesis England.
The pacer also did not participate in the national team's white-ball assignments against West Indies and South Africa, as part of CA's workload management policy. The back problem is not uncommon for Cummins, as he has previously encountered it multiple times in his early 20s. However, this latest spike up is particularly worrying as there is a short turnaround between Tests during the Ashes, with five Tests squeezed in just seven weeks.
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Notably, since returning from a long-standing back issue in 2017, Cummins has become Australia's match-winner across formats. The skipper has only missed two Tests due to injury since being appointed as leader four years ago. The 32-year-old has also had a terrific impact in Tests, forming a formidable combination with Josh Hazlewood & Mitchell Starc. Cummins has also had huge impact in Ashes series, playing 19 of last 20 Tests against England, including all five Tests in 2017-18, 2019 & 2023 series.
While Australia is not short of bowling resources, should the skipper could miss a few Tests, Scott Boland is a ready-made replacement on home surfaces. The skipper's absence for one Test during the Ashes could also give England a massive advantage.
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