Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
