Pat Cummins likely to miss Ashes opener.

Australia fast bowler and captain Pat Cummins is, in all likelihood, to miss the Ashes opener in Perth on 21st November. As per CA, Cummins has not yet recovered from his lower back injury that he nursed during the West Indies tour.  Scott Boland, the smiling assassin is the front runner to replace the captain while Steve Smith is set to take over captaincy duties.

"We are definitely running out of time around that. He's added some variables into his training and I'm hesitant to get involved in the medical discussion around it, but what I will say around it is that I think by this time next week we'll be in a position where we're better informed to make a judgement around what that first Test match looks like," coach Andrew Mcdonald was quoted saying.

The Ashes in Australia have ended up coinciding with significant moments in the Test career of Pat Cummins. Eight years ago, he ended up playing his first-ever Test on home soil against England. Four years on from then, he dramatically took over as Test captain in the most unusual of circumstances, in which Tim Paine was suspended due to an absurd controversy.

Australia will look to extend their outrageous home record against England as they have not lost a single test match since 7 January 2011 and although Cummins absence will be felt, the bowling has enough sharpness to give the opposition sleepless nights.