Australia will start the first Ashes test without their captain, Pat Cummins, with Steve Smith set to replace him. Cummins, plagued by a lingering back injury, will miss the opener in Perth next month despite hopes of a swift recovery for the following matches.
Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, expressed optimism for Cummins’ return by the second Test, highlighting the valuable experience Smith brings as the interim captain. The team remains confident in their lineup, with Scott Boland likely to step in for Cummins alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for the initial test.
The Ashes series, set to run until early January, will see its final test in Sydney on January 3. Fans eagerly await the outcome of Cummins’ recovery as Australia prepares for a challenging series against England.