Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation 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, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
