Cummins has not played since picking up a lower back injury against the West Indies four months ago.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful skipper Pat Cummins will be able to play in the second Ashes Test and thinks it highly unlikely that quick Josh Hazlewood will miss the whole series.

Australia was dealt a huge blow Saturday with pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England with a hamstring strain, joining Pat Cummins on the sidelines.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is back bowling multiple overs on a reduced run-up and has targeted returning to the team for the second Ashes Test against England, a day-nighter in Brisbane starting on December 4.

Coach Andrew McDonald said Cummins had now resumed running and would be back bowling this week, offering hope the 32-year-old might be fit to take part in the day-night second Test in Brisbane from December 4.

Skipper Pat Cummins has poured cold water on Australia fielding four frontline fast bowlers during the Ashes series against England, saying it was "very unlikely" spinner Nathan Lyon will be overlooked.

Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins said Monday that he was "probably less likely than likely" to be fit for the first Ashes Test next month, but was still clinging to a shred of hope.

With the prospect of captain Pat Cummins being fit for the Ashes receding by the day, Australia's hopes of retaining the urn may rest on managing one of the biggest shake-ups to their leadership and bowling against England in years.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has not resumed bowling after suffering a back injury and will miss the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth in late November, multiple local media outlets reported on Wednesday.

Pat Cummins says he will do whatever it takes to play the Ashes against England starting in November, with the Australian skipper prepared to "take a few risks" with a back injury that has sidelined him.

The 32-year-old fast bowler was rested from the recent white-ball series against the West Indies and South Africa and is still dealing with what Cricket Australia described as "lumbar bone stress".

Glenn McGrath has backed Australia to secure a 5-0 clean sweep in the 2025-26 Ashes, predicting another dominant display on home soil when the series begins in November.  

Australia could shake up their batting after crashing to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, with captain Pat Cummins saying a "reset" was needed ahead of three Tests in the West Indies and a home Ashes series.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side had been faced with a "bridge too far" after losing the World Test Championship final to South Africa at Lord's on Saturday.

Aiden Markram's superb century on Friday left South Africa on the brink of a dramatic victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia after decades of heartbreak in major tournaments.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days.

Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with the ball and Alex Carey made valuable runs following a dramatic collapse as the holders retained the advantage in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Thursday.

The milestone also marked a historic moment for the game, as Cummins joined teammates Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in the 300-wicket club-- the first time in Test history that three bowlers with 300-plus wickets featured in the same XI.

Australia captain Pat Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for just one run as the title-holders seized control of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Thursday.

The Ultimate Test nears closer as the two best teams, South Africa and Australia, do battle for the World Test Championship mace from 11 June.