England’s hopes of an Ashes fightback have been boosted by the news that Australia captain Pat Cummins is set to miss Thursday’s second Test in Brisbane after failing to recover in time from his back injury.
Cummins, his side’s best bowler, had already sat out the series opener in Perth, which his side won by eight wickets inside two days, but he had been in training with the pink ball and the management were hopeful he would be fit for Thursday’s day/night Test at the Gabba.
Instead, barring a late recovery, he will join fellow quick Josh Hazlewood on the sidelines, leaving Australia to name an unchanged 14-man squad as they look to go 2–0 up with three to play.
But they must still decide whether to allow Usman Khawaja to resume at the top of the order, after back spasms forced him down to No 4 in Perth.
Josh Inglis has again been named as the reserve batsman, but after a recent century in a warm-up match against an England XI, he could press for a recall to the side.
Cummins has not played in a match since Australia completed a clean sweep of the West Indies in July, when he first noticed soreness in his back.
Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane
It presents a major boost for England after their disappointing two-day defeat in the first Test
Khawaja has been named in the squad, but his place in the final team remains in doubt
Travis Head made a case to stay on as opener by scoring a blistering match-winning century in the second innings, while one of Josh Inglis – fresh from a century against England Lions – or Beau Webster could then assume Head’s role at No 5.
The Aussies will go with the same pace attack as Perth, with Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett to support Mitchell Starc.