Pat Cummins ruled out for remainder of Ashes, Cricket Australia announces replacement

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that Pat Cummins has been ruled out for the remainder of the Ashes to manage his back, as the medical staff is reluctant to risk his health.

McDonald specified that the team management was aware of the risk associated with Cummins' rebuild, and since the hosts have already secured the Ashes, they want to allow their captain time to regain full fitness.

"He's pulled up fine," McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "He won't play any part in the rest of the series, and that was a discussion that we had a long time out around his return.

"We were taking on some risk and people that reported on that would understand the risk associated with that rebuild. We've now won the series, and that was the goal. So, to position him for further risk and jeopardise him long-term is not something that we want to do, and Pat's really comfortable with that."

Cummins was brilliant on his return in the third Test in Adelaide, claiming 3/69 and 3/48 across the two innings and playing a pivotal role in Australia's 82-run win over England. Notably, the Australia captain suffered a lumbar stress reaction following their tour of the West Indies in July.

Cummins' participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is also in doubt, and therefore, the team will have to look at an ideal replacement for him to bolster their chances of winning the title in the Indian subcontinent.

Notably, Nathan Lyon has also been ruled out for the rest of the series after tearing his right hamstring in the field on the final day of the Adelaide Test.

Steve Smith, who was unavailable for selection in the third Test, has been named in Australia's squad for the Boxing Day Test and will lead the team. Todd Murphy and Jhye Richardson have been named as replacements for Lyon and Cummins for the MCG Test.