BREAKING: Cummins "bone stress' causes Ashes anxiety

PL: Cricket Australia confirms worrying report about Australian captain

Pat Cummins.

Well, that’s the first bum pucker of the summer locked in.

Australia is heading into what feels like the biggest home Ashes in almost two decades, with a question mark hanging over the fitness of Pat Cummins.

The bowler is saying he will be fine for the first Test, and everyone needs to chill out.

An official update on Cummins condition was buried deep in this morning’s press statement about Mitchell Starc’s retirement from T20 international cricket.

Pat Cummins will miss the series as part of his ongoing management plan leading into the summer.

Cummins was rested from recent T20 series against the West Indies and South Africa. Despite this planned de-load period, Cummins has experienced some ongoing lower back pain following the West Indies tour.

Further investigation has identified a level of lumbar bone stress that will require further management over the coming months.

Cummins won’t be considered for the upcoming limited-overs series against India and will continue his rehabilitation plan with a return to bowling to be determined as part of his Ashes preparation.