Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
