Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to 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, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
