Australia will start the first Ashes Test in Perth without two of their key fast bowlers. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are both ruled out, leaving the home side with a major setback before the series begins.
Cummins has battled a back problem for months. He hoped to recover in time, but he has “run out of time” for the opener. He will return to bowling in the nets this week, and head coach Andrew McDonald said he is hopeful Cummins will be ready for the second Test in Brisbane.
It is a big loss for Australia. Cummins is their captain and premier fast bowler. He missed the recent white-ball games against New Zealand and India due to a lumbar stress fracture. He admitted earlier this month that he needed weeks of bowling to be match-fit, and the first Test came too soon.
Steve Smith will lead the team in his absence. Smith has captained Australia before and has stood in for Cummins six times. He remains one of the top Ashes run-scorers and is seen as a steady replacement.
Hazlewood’s situation adds more trouble. He felt hamstring tightness during a Sheffield Shield match. Early scans showed no strain, but new scans on Saturday confirmed the injury. He reported more discomfort and was ruled out for Perth.
Hazlewood now joins Cummins and fellow seamer Sean Abbott on the sidelines. Abbott injured his own hamstring in the same game. This leaves Mitchell Starc as the only fit first-choice fast bowler for the opening Test.
Scott Boland will replace Cummins. Boland has an outstanding Test record at home and is ready to take on England. Brendan Doggett is now in line for a surprise debut, with McDonald impressed by his recent form. Doggett has taken two five-wicket hauls since returning from injury.
Australia may also need support from their reserve bowlers during this tight five-Test schedule. Names like Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett, Fergus O’Neill, and even a possible Test return for Mitchell Marsh have been discussed.
England have their own concerns with Mark Wood feeling hamstring tightness in a warm-up match, but scans have cleared him and he will continue training.
The first Test in Perth now begins with both Cummins and Hazlewood out, leaving Australia’s attack stretched and their depth set for an early test.
