The fast bowler Set to Play a Key Part in Ashes Series
Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
