Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026