Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort 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 initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
