Australia captain Pat Cummins has not resumed bowling after suffering a back injury and will miss the opening Ashes Test against England in Perth in late November, multiple local media outlets reported on Wednesday.
England managing director Rob Key has urged the tourists not to "get caught doing stupid things" on their Ashes tour of Australia.
Ben Stokes was named as England captain for the Ashes tour as the squad was announced on Tuesday for five Tests in Australia.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins said Friday he hoped to play in all five Ashes Tests against England but conceded he will need to see how his back injury holds up, local media said.
England coach Brendon McCullum has left open the possibility of Harry Brook replacing Ollie Pope as vice-captain during the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia.
Harry Brook urged England's multi-format cricketers to press on amid a gruelling schedule following another loss to South Africa.
Marnus Labuschagne has gone "back to the drawing board" in a bid to regain his Australia spot for the Ashes, boosted by knowing he was once the top batsman in the world.
Australia are confident that captain Pat Cummins will be fit for the Ashes after he was ruled out Tuesday of series against New Zealand and India with a back complaint.
Joe Root has brushed aside David Warner's jibe that he will need to "take the surfboard off his front leg" if England are to triumph in Australia in the upcoming Ashes series.
Explosive young opening batsman Sam Konstas was on Tuesday awarded his first central contract by Cricket Australia for the 2025-26 season, which includes the World Test Championship final and the Ashes against England.