Injured Australia captain Pat Cummins said Monday that he was "probably less likely than likely" to be fit for the first Ashes Test next month, but was still clinging to a shred of hope.

With the prospect of captain Pat Cummins being fit for the Ashes receding by the day, Australia's hopes of retaining the urn may rest on managing one of the biggest shake-ups to their leadership and bowling against England in years.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has not resumed bowling after suffering a back injury and will miss the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth in late November, multiple local media outlets reported on Wednesday.

Pat Cummins says he will do whatever it takes to play the Ashes against England starting in November, with the Australian skipper prepared to "take a few risks" with a back injury that has sidelined him.

The 32-year-old fast bowler was rested from the recent white-ball series against the West Indies and South Africa and is still dealing with what Cricket Australia described as "lumbar bone stress".

Glenn McGrath has backed Australia to secure a 5-0 clean sweep in the 2025-26 Ashes, predicting another dominant display on home soil when the series begins in November.  

Australia could shake up their batting after crashing to South Africa in the World Test Championship final, with captain Pat Cummins saying a "reset" was needed ahead of three Tests in the West Indies and a home Ashes series.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side had been faced with a "bridge too far" after losing the World Test Championship final to South Africa at Lord's on Saturday.

Aiden Markram's superb century on Friday left South Africa on the brink of a dramatic victory in the World Test Championship final against Australia after decades of heartbreak in major tournaments.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days.

Australia captain Pat Cummins starred with the ball and Alex Carey made valuable runs following a dramatic collapse as the holders retained the advantage in the World Test Championship final against South Africa on Thursday.

The milestone also marked a historic moment for the game, as Cummins joined teammates Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in the 300-wicket club-- the first time in Test history that three bowlers with 300-plus wickets featured in the same XI.

Australia captain Pat Cummins produced a sensational spell of four wickets for just one run as the title-holders seized control of the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's on Thursday.

The Ultimate Test nears closer as the two best teams, South Africa and Australia, do battle for the World Test Championship mace from 11 June.

Pat Cummins' figures of 3-19 went in vain after rain ended his and Sunrisers Hyderabad's chances of reaching the playoffs as their clash against Delhi Capitals was called off on Monday.

Amidst the familiar faces of Indian captains, Pat Cummins stood out as the only overseas leader in IPL 2025.

Cummins skipped the ongoing Test tour of Sri Lanka for the birth of his second child but also has an ankle problem.

The Aussies may have to find three new players to include in their 15-member squad for the upcoming tournament in Pakistan and UAE.

Cummins will skip the Test series in Sri Lanka in January and early February for personal reasons but will return to Australia's colours for the one-day international tournament being played in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates from Feb. 19.

Australia surged into a June showdown against South Africa at Lord's with a six-wicket victory in the fifth Test against India in Sydney on Sunday.