The fast bowler Poised for a Significant Contribution in Iconic Rivalry
The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
