Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
