Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
