Patrick Cummins has suffered a stress fracture in his lower back and is expected to be out of action for around four months.

It will be the second consecutive Australian summer that Cummins will miss and Australia will now have to look for a replacement ahead of the series against South Africa.

Cummins, who has only made one Test appearance for Australia, must now prove his fitness ahead of next year's Ashes series in England.

The 19-year-old recently had his bowling action examined to determine the reason behind his injury problems.