Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
