Cummins out of Australia Ashes squad as Khawaja lays into state of Perth pitch

• Fast bowler deemed not ready to return for Gabba day-night Test

• Opener Usman Khawaja says pitch is ‘a piece of shit’

The opportunity that England squandered in Perth appears to have presented itself once more after Australia opted to play it safe with Pat Cummins and name an unchanged squad for next week’s day-night second Test at the Gabba.

Beyond their match-defining collapse on the second afternoon, one of the most galling aspects of England’s eight-wicket defeat in the first Test was the fact that both Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – two members of their fabled fast bowling group – were missing.