Pat Cummins Poised for a Major Role in the Ashes
The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026