Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue 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 kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
