Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
