Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
