Pat Cummins Set to Play a Significant Contribution in Ashes Series
The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
