Pat Cummins faces an anxious build-up to the summer after fresh scans revealed a troubling back issue ahead of a blockbuster Ashes series against England.
What was supposed to be a routine scan has revealed the back complaint that has forced Cricket Australia to wrap the Test skipper and pace bowling talisman in cotton wool.
Medical checks undertaken this week are expected to confirm signs of stress that will require careful management.
He will miss the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand. Cummins may also be in doubt for the one-day internationals scheduled against India in October.
And there are real fears he could also miss matches during The Ashes, which will be played across five gruelling Tests.
While officials insist there is no cause for panic, selectors are bracing for the possibility he won’t play every Test.
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins could miss matches during The Ashes this summer
It comes after a routine scan revealed a troublesome back complaint that will need to be addressed
Cummins has already been ruled out of the upcoming T20 series against New Zealand
The Ashes, beginning in late November, remains the priority, and every effort will be made to have him available.
Cummins could still feature prominently, though his workload may need to be carefully rationed.
That scenario would put Steve Smith in line to deputise as captain if Cummins requires a break.
Smith has previously stepped in with success, and leadership continuity would be critical during the high-pressure Ashes series.
For Cummins, the timing is cruel given the resilience he has shown since his early-career struggles.
Between his 2011 debut and his second Test in 2017, repeated injuries kept him sidelined for nearly six years.
Since then, his body has held up superbly, allowing him to play extended stretches of cricket with minimal interruptions.
He carried the pace attack through all five Tests against India last summer and was ever-present during the winter tours.
Scott Boland will be on standby for Cummins and the other fast bowlers during The Ashes
Aussie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood said individual preparation was the best shot for the pace attack
Aside from minor ankle maintenance earlier this year, Cummins has rarely missed time due to physical setbacks.
That record makes news of a potential back issue particularly concerning for team management and supporters alike.
Australia is optimistic he will still line up in Brisbane for the Ashes opener, but nothing is guaranteed.
If he is forced to miss time, greater responsibility will fall on Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland.
The trio already carry heavy workloads, and selectors know they cannot risk overextending them across five grueling Tests.
Depth remains a pressing concern, with Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson unavailable and Jhye Richardson sidelined at the start.
This leaves the likes of Michael Neser, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, and Brendan Doggett as potential emergency options.
Such names have quality, but lack the big-stage experience that the Ashes demands.
On Thursday, Hazlewood confirmed bowlers would be following customised preparation plans leading into the summer.
‘The Test players will likely play two or three Shield games, Everyone is on different training schedules, but I found it really helpful last year,’ Hazlewood said.
‘Getting time on the field and bowling multiple spells in a day is something you just can’t replicate in training.
‘Over the past 12 months, I felt the best approach for me was to keep going, stay active, and avoid long breaks from bowling. If I can maintain match intensity for as long as possible, that’s the best way forward.’
