Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
