Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"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," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
