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AUSTRALIA SUFFER SETBACK AS CAPTAIN PAT CUMMINS MISSES OPENING ASHES TEST.

Cricket Australia has confirmed Pat Cummins will miss the first Ashes Test vs England due to a back injury. Steve Smith will captain in his absence, dealing a major blow to Australia's bowling attack.

Australia suffer setback as captain Pat Cummins misses opening Ashes Test.
Australia captain Cummins ruled out through injury - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Captain Pat Cummins will not play in the opening Ashes Test match against England, according to Cricket Australia.

Before the start of the five-match series, Cummins' fitness had been a hot topic of conversation. He had even hinted that he would not be ready for the opening game, which starts on November 21 at Perth's Optus Stadium.

Due to a back stress injury he got during Australia's 3-0 series victory over the West Indies in July, the captain of Australia has not bowled since then.

Steve Smith will serve as captain in place of Cummins, according to a statement released by Cricket Australia on Sunday.

Smith was a capable deputy who guided Australia to victory over England in the 2017 Ashes.

According to Cricket Australia, Cummins "said he would want to have been back with the ball in hand at least four weeks away from his return" and had not yet started bowling again.

Cummins "expects to return to bowling shortly" and is back to his best, according to the statement.

The team trying to continue a strong decade against England, which has not lost an Ashes match since 2015, will be hurt by the absence of Cummins, Australia's top fast bowler.

Earlier this month, Cummins told Fox Cricket that he was "really feeling extremely fantastic" as he recovered. His current goal is to get healthy in time for the second Test, which starts at The Gabba on December 4.

TNT Sports and Discovery+ will broadcast all five Ashes Test matches as England attempts to win a series in Australia for the first time since 2010–11.

Additionally, Cummins' absence from the opening Test raises interesting concerns about who might take his position in Australia's bowling attack, with Scott Boland, 36, probably leading the pack.

Since being named captain before the 2021 Ashes series, Cummins has had a significant impact on the Australian squad. Due to COVID-19 protocols, he was unable to play in the second Test of the 4-0 victory. Since then, he has guided his team to victory in the 2023 World Cup and World Test Championship.

In the 2023 Ashes series, his Australia team drew 2-2 with England.

LUKE LITTLER STAGES IMPROBABLE COMEBACK TO SECURE PREMIER LEAGUE DUBLIN TITLE

Luke Littler staged a miracle 0-5 comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-5 and claim Premier League Night Seven in Dublin.

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Luke Littler Overcomes 0-5 Deficit To Shock Gerwyn Price In Dublin Final

Luke Littler pulled off an incredible comeback to win Night Seven of the 2026 Premier League Darts in Dublin, edging out Gerwyn Price 6-5 in a gripping final at the 3Arena.

Starting the match down 5-0, Littler managed to turn things around, finishing with a sharp 81 checkout on double 15 to claim his second nightly win of the season. This victory strengthened his position in the hunt for a playoff spot. Price, the world champion, seemed to be heading for a comfortable win after dominating early on. However, a string of missed match darts allowed Littler to complete this remarkable turnaround, much to the delight of the lively Dublin crowd.

Littler and Price both earned their places in the final with strong performances throughout the night. Littler kicked off with a solid 6-3 win over Stephen Bunting in a match where both players averaged over 100. His ability to close out legs made the difference, converting six doubles from 13 attempts to secure his spot in the semi-finals.

There, he faced Michael van Gerwen in one of the season’s standout matches. The high-scoring battle featured big moments from both sides, including a spectacular 170 checkout from Van Gerwen. Littler matched the intensity, hitting his own impressive finishes and eventually held his nerve in a deciding leg to win 6-5 and move into the final.

On the other side, Gerwyn Price was ruthless in his journey to the final. He opened with a commanding 6-0 victory over Josh Rock, who has continued to struggle in this season’s Premier League. Price’s clinical play, averaging over 100 and converting six doubles from 11 tries, set the tone. He carried that momentum into the semi-finals with a dominant 6-1 win against the reigning champion Luke Humphries, averaging 109.04 and maintaining pressure from the first dart.

The final started predictably, with Price in full control. He quickly jumped to a 5-0 lead, capitalising on Littler’s early missed chances. After finally getting on the board with a 52 finish, Littler seemed outmatched at 5-1. But Price missed several opportunities to close out the match, including a crucial miss at double top for a 72 checkout.

Seizing the moment, Littler struck back with a 76 checkout, shifting the momentum. The Dublin crowd got behind him as he rattled off consecutive legs, eventually tying it at 5-5 after Price missed another double. In the deciding leg, Littler sealed the comeback with a precise 81 checkout, combining treble 17 and double 15, leaving everyone in the arena stunned.

Beyond the headline final, Night Seven had other significant developments in the playoff race. Jonny Clayton, the league leader, took his first quarter-final defeat of the season, losing 6-3 to Luke Humphries. This not only ended Clayton’s unbeaten run at this stage but handed him his first pointless night.

Josh Rock’s struggles also continued. After seven weeks, he remains without a win, suffering a heavy defeat to Price and staying at the bottom of the table as his Premier League debut continues to be a tough challenge.

There was a last-minute change when Gian van Veen withdrew due to illness, giving Van Gerwen a walkover into the semi-finals. Still, Van Gerwen couldn’t take advantage of the extra rest, falling to Littler in a nail-biting deciding leg in the semis.

HOW THE KNICKS PLAN TO REPLACE JOSH HART’S HISTORIC ENERGY

Josh Hart is out with knee pain, but Jalen Brunson returns as the Knicks eye a fifth straight win against the Nets.

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Josh Hart Sidelined For Knicks Versus Nets Clash With Knee Injury

The Knicks face a tough challenge Friday night as they’ll be without one of their key glue guys. Josh Hart is sidelined with patellofemoral syndrome in his right knee, a hit that comes at a pretty awkward moment. The team’s riding a four-game winning streak and trying to solidify their playoff standing in the Eastern Conference.

With Hart out, Landry Shamet is expected to slide into the starting lineup. Coach Mike Brown might lean more heavily on veteran Jordan Clarkson and rookie Mohamed Diawara to cover those extra minutes on the floor.

There’s a bit of good news to balance this out: Jalen Brunson is back after missing Tuesday’s game due to a sore ankle and neck strain. That gets the Knicks’ offensive engine back in gear, but losing Hart carries a different kind of weight.

Hart’s been central to this group all season, not just scoring, but keeping the lineups cohesive and pushing the tempo. His relentless hustle, grabbing rebounds, leading fast breaks, and doing the gritty work, helps the whole team click. Brown has openly praised how crucial Hart’s energy and connection are.

“He’s been fantastic, giving us that energy, keeping our group connected,” Brown said after their recent win. “Crashing the boards, picking up the pace, attacking in transition – those are the things that make a difference.”

Brown even compared Hart’s impact to what Andre Iguodala brought to championship-winning teams. It’s that veteran savvy and basketball IQ that might not always show up in stats, but often marks the difference between just making it and truly winning.

Hart’s recent game really underscored what he adds when he’s firing on all cylinders. In Tuesday’s 136-110 rout of the Pacers, he exploded for a Knicks career-high 33 points, hitting 12 of 13 shots and draining all five of his threes. On top of that, he grabbed seven rebounds, dished five assists, and swiped two steals in just 26 minutes.

That wasn’t just a hot streak; it was historic. Hart became the first NBA player ever to score at least 30 points, hit five threes, grab five rebounds, and dish out five assists all on 90% shooting or better. He also joined a very exclusive Knicks group with a 30-point night at 90% shooting.

Thanks in large part to him, New York cruised to a 45-25 season mark. OG Anunoby added 26, Karl-Anthony Towns notched a double-double, and the team looked strong overall.

Now the focus shifts to the supporting cast as the Nets come to town. Shamet will bring much-needed shooting to the starting five. Clarkson’s scoring punch is going to be even more important with Hart out, and Diawara should see more extended minutes, especially on defence.

The Nets will be eager to play spoiler, so the Knicks will need everyone diving after loose balls, maintaining the pace, and staying connected. It will definitely take a collective effort to cover for Hart’s absence.

Hart’s knee issue doesn’t seem like it will drag on, but missing him highlights just how pivotal he has become to New York’s success this season. Brunson’s return helps keep the offence on track, but replacing everything Hart offers, especially following a night like that, is no easy feat.

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