The fast bowler Set to Play a Major Role in Ashes Series
Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
