Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
