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New Delhi: Cricket Australia confirmed Pat Cummins' unavailability from the first Ashes Test on Monday, and named Steve Smith as the team's captain for the series opener in Perth next month.
Cummins has remained out of action due to a lower-back issue since July and was doubtful for the first match against England that starts on November 21.
In a statement, Cricket Australia said Cummins had now resumed running and would begin bowling soon, with hopes that the 32-year-old could be fit for the second day-night Test in Brisbane from December 4.
"We've grappled with it for a little while. The nature of the injury is that you never know and you're sort of taking it a day by day," coach Andrew McDonald said.
"We've run out of time. We flagged this a week or so ago that it will take four-plus weeks to get him up and running. We've run out of time unfortunately, but really optimistic and hopeful for the second Test match.
"He'll be back bowling this week, and that's a huge step. That was the big variable that we wanted to add in. We're on the journey to that that second Test match, and very hopeful that that will be a positive outcome."
Though Australia sweated on the fitness of their captain and top pacer, they have a ready replacement in Scott Boland, who is set to line-up alongside Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc in the pace attack at Perth Stadium.
Over the years, Boland has always been a replacement pacer in Tests behind Australia's first choice trio of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood, but he has more often than not delivered when called upon.
The 36-year-old has utilised Australia's hard pitches to claim 62 wickets at an average of 16.53 in 14 Test appearances.
Cummins has always been an ever-present in the Aussie side for Ashes clashes since his first Test against England in the 2017-18 series, helping them win the urn back and then retain it since.
Smith will return as skipper after he was sacked in 2018 for his part in the infamous ball-tampering scandal, and has led them six times in Cummins' absence due to injuries.
