Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
