The fast bowler Set to Play a Key Part in Ashes Series
Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
