Australian Test captain Pat Cummins is set to sit out the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand as a precautionary measure, with Cricket Australia keen to keep him fresh for the home Ashes campaign. The 32-year-old fast bowler has been dealing with back tightness since returning from the Caribbean earlier this month and will undergo routine scans.
Cummins had already opted out of Australia’s recent white-ball matches against the West Indies and South Africa, further highlighting the team’s cautious approach to managing his workload.
While he will not feature in the short-format series starting October 1 in New Zealand, reports suggest that he remains on track to return for October’s one-day internationals against India and is likely to feature in at least one Sheffield Shield fixture for New South Wales before the Ashes opener in Perth.
Hazlewood on Ashes Preparations
Speaking to reporters, fellow pacer Josh Hazlewood outlined how Australia’s Test bowlers are following tailored preparation programs to ensure peak fitness for the high-pressure Ashes series.
According to Hazlewood, most of the senior quicks are expected to play two or three Shield games in the lead-up, as extended spells in domestic cricket provide the best match-like intensity. He noted that time on the field is difficult to replicate in training sessions, stressing that continuous bowling across competitive matches helps maintain rhythm and endurance.
Hazlewood himself has benefited from such a program over the past year and believes the approach gives fast bowlers the best chance to stay fit and sharp. The strategy underlines the team’s focus on long-term goals, with the Ashes viewed as the pinnacle of the summer.
Injury Woes for Australian Pacers
Australia’s pace stocks have been further stretched with injuries to fringe bowlers Lance Morris, Spencer Johnson, and Ben Dwarshuis, each of whom is racing against time to be fit for the 2025/26 season.
Their absence places additional responsibility on Cummins, Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Scott Boland, who will shoulder the bulk of the workload across five grueling Tests against England. With such high demands on the frontline attack, Australia’s selectors are keen to minimize risks, which explains their careful management of Cummins ahead of the New Zealand tour.
The T20 series beginning on October 1 will therefore proceed without the Test skipper, but his expected return in time for India’s ODI series and domestic red-ball action suggests Australia is prioritizing peak performance for the Ashes above all else.
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