Pat Cummins Leads Australia to Historic Ashes Retention Amid Aging Core and Injury Challenges
Pat Cummins captained Australia to retain the Ashes in Adelaide, marking his third consecutive series as captain without losing the urn. While Steve Smith led the team to wins in Cummins' absence during the first two Tests, Cummins returned to captain the decisive third Test victory. Australia currently holds the Ashes through a five-series streak, a feat surpassed only by three longer winning streaks in the competition's history.
Despite this success, Australia has yet to win an Ashes series in England under Cummins, with two drawn series (2-2) allowing them to retain the urn. The upcoming 2027 England tour is seen as a chance to extend this streak further and capture the urn for a fourth time under his leadership.
However, the team faces challenges as many core players are aging. Cummins will be 34 in 2027, while key teammates Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, and Smith will be 37, 36, 39, and 38 respectively. This raises questions about their longevity and form in future series.
Injuries have also impacted the current series, with Cummins and Hazlewood sidelined before play, Lyon returning from a hamstring issue, Khawaja dealing with back problems, and Boland approaching 38. Meanwhile, Cameron Green is still working on finding consistent runs and game time.
Although sometimes referred to as 'Dad’s Army' due to the team's average age, Australia's side has delivered rapid and near-record Ashes wins, exemplified by their remarkable 11-playing-day victory span in this series.
