Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
