Ashes Cricket Update: Pat Cummins Out, Steve Smith Steps Up as Captain. Jeremy Zakis discusses how the Australian Ashes team faces uncertainty as expected captain Pat Cummins is likely out of the first match, and probably the series, due to severe shoulder and back injuries. Steve Smith has been selected as the replacement captain. Player selection is ongoing, with Marnus Labuschagne expected to return after improving his one-day international performance. Meanwhile, rivals England were decisively beaten by New Zealand, though this poor performance might be intentional "psychological warfare" before the November start in Perth.