Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
