Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
