Ashes 2025–26 kicks off, and Pat Cummins is absent from the first Test, here’s why

The Ashes 2025–26 series opened in Perth on November 21 with England winning the toss and choosing to bat first, setting the tone for a high-stakes contest. Australia entered the Test without regular captain Pat Cummins, who is out with a lumbar bone stress injury, forcing the hosts to rely on a reshuffled bowling attack for the series opener.

Ashes 2025: Why is Pat Cummins not playing?

Cummins’ absence became one of the biggest talking points before the match. The fast bowler’s lower-back injury has ruled him out of the first Test, though the Australian camp remains hopeful he will recover in time for the second. In a positive sign, Cummins was spotted bowling in the nets ahead of the game, suggesting he may return sooner than expected.

Smith’s unusual toss moment

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith acknowledged the challenge when asked about the decision at the toss. England had chosen to bat, and Smith admitted he would have done the same.


“I would have had a bat as well. Hopefully it seams all over the place this morning. I think the cracks are going to open up as the match progresses. Those (Injuries to Cummins and Hazlewood) are big losses but it opens up new opportunities as well. Boland has been fantastic and Doggett has been excellent in the Shield,” Smith said at the toss.

His comments captured the mood in the Aussie camp—concerned about missing senior pacers but upbeat about the newcomers stepping up.

New faces take the field

With Cummins unavailable, Australia handed opportunities to Brendan Doggett and Scott Boland, hoping the pair could make early breakthroughs on a Perth pitch expected to offer movement. The first Test also presented a chance for their batting order—led by Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja—to set the tone for the series.