Overview
- Cricket Australia confirmed the captain will miss the Perth Test as he recovers from a lower‑back stress injury.
- The board said Cummins has resumed running and expects to return to bowling shortly after a prolonged layoff.
- McDonald said Cummins will bowl this week and flagged the day‑night second Test at Brisbane on December 4 as a realistic target.
- Scott Boland is the likely pace replacement alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for the Perth match starting November 21.
- Cummins has not bowled since July’s West Indies tour and is expected to travel with the squad to Perth as Australia finalises its first‑Test group after the current Sheffield Shield round.