Pat Cummins officially ruled out of Ashes opener, Steve Smith set to captain in Perth
Updated . First published at
Australian captain Pat Cummins has officially been ruled out of the Ashes opener in Perth with a back injury.
The skipper is yet to resume bowling, but is expected to feature later in the summer.
Cummins has indicated he wants to have four weeks with ball in hand to prepare to face England in what promises to be a gripping five-game series.
READ MORE: 'Let them out': England urged to unleash pace pairing
READ MORE: Two marshals 'nearly killed' in dangerous F1 incident
READ MORE: Rain wreaks havoc as World Cup semi finals locked in
Australian skipper Pat Cummins Getty
In his absence, Steve Smith will lead the side at Optus Stadium, while cult hero Scott Boland will be the likely third seamer alongside Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Boland has become the consistent back-up to the star Aussie trio and recent years and has performed exceptionally well when called upon, averaging 12.63 on home soil.
The skipper's injury setback will also mean a spot opens up in the wider squad for another bowler, with a handful of names in the mix.
Fergus O'Neill looms as a genuine front-runner as he continues to impress at Sheffield Shield level for Victoria early in the season, snagging a five-fa against NSW.
The 24-year-old doesn't possess rapid pace, but has a knack for getting wickets with 140 scalps to his name at first-class level at an average just over 20.
Fergus O'Neill Getty
Michael Neser would be a safer option having been around the Test squad before, while also offering more with the bat than the rest of the bowling cartel.
Riley Meredith is a potential wildcard option, with former captain Tim Paine singing the tearaway's praises recently and backing him for a call-up.
The 29-year-old has a handful of Australian caps to his name in white-ball cricket, but has yet to crack into the Test arena.
