Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
