Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"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.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
