🔗 Share this article

The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.

Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.

"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.

He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."

"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. 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 adopt a safer strategy."

Fixture Details

Australia vs England: The Ashes

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026