Ashes 2025: Australia captain Pat Cummins to take risks with rehab

Australia captain Pat Cummins is willing to be “aggressive” and “take risks” with his rehabilitation from a back injury in order to be fit for the first Ashes Test against England this winter.

Cummins has been ruled out of Australia’s upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand and India after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress in his back.

The 32-year-old said it would be “devastating” if he missed out on the first Ashes Test, which starts on 21 November in Perth, Western Australia.

“I’m never going to go into a Test match unless I think I can finish the Test match,” Cummins said.

“But when you’re 18 or 19, you’re like, ‘let’s make sure this is the perfect rehab, whether it takes an extra six months’. Whereas, I’m happy to be a bit like, ‘well, it’s an Ashes series, whatever it takes to play it’.

“Then, say, at the end, if you’re still not 100% and you need to have a bit of a break next year, there’s not another Ashes series.”

Cummins has been restricted to light gym work since his last Test appearance against West Indies in July and is prepared to go into the Ashes without having played any domestic cricket.