Pat Cummins is confronted with Race to be fit for the first Ashes test because of the continuous refund

Pat Cummins is no certainty for Captain Australia in the first Ashes test while he deals with stress in his back.

The Star Quick will miss the upcoming T20 tour through New Zealand and Back-to-Back Home White-Ball Series against India because of lumbar bone stress.

Cummins is released from stress fractures, but will race the clock to be fit for the opening test of Australia in Perth against England from November 21.

“Despite this planned DE-Load period, Cummins experienced some constant lower back pain after the Test Tour of the West Indies,” said a spokesperson for Cricket Australia.

“Further research has identified a level of lumbar bone stress that requires further management in the coming months.

“Cummins will not be taken into account for the upcoming series with limited overs against India and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his ash preparation.”

From Cummins it was expected to skip the tour through New Zealand, but his preparations for the ashes were disrupted with the 32-year-old excluded from the three match One-Day Series against India in October.

Although Cummins would undoubtedly be a huge loss, Australia have captain and bowling options to cover him if he is not suitable for the start of the axis.

Scott Boland would almost certainly be called in the PACE attack, with the Victorian spectacularly taking a hat trick in the earlier test of Australia against the West Indies in July.

Former skipper Steve Smith has also covered Cummins several times since the Pacer test captain became in November 2021.

Cummins missed a test during the Ashes of 2021-22 because of COVID-19 protocols, while he did not play in the last two games of the Australia tour by India in 2023 because of the death of his mother.

Left Arm Quick Mitchell Starc has meanwhile announced his retirement of international T20s in an attempt to keep his test career.

Starc’s 79 Wickets In 65 T20is, he is in second place on the list of all time for Australia behind Adam Zampa.

“Test Cricket is and has always been my highest priority,” said Starc.

“I kept every minute of every T20 game that I played for Australia, especially the World Cup 2021, not only because we won, but the incredible group and the pleasure on the road.

“Looking ahead to a road -indian test tour, the Ashes and an ODI World Cup in 2027, I think this is my best way to stay fresh, fit and at my best for those campaigns.”

The Australia team to travel in New Zealand for three T20s includes left-old Ben Dwarshuis, next to Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott.

Mitch Owen returns after he made a concussion with Matt Short named in the second game against South Africa after the recovery of a side stem.

Experienced all-rounder Marcus Stoinis also returns to the team for the T20 series from 1 October.

Australia T20 Squad

Mitchell Marsh (CAPT), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.