Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
