Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
