Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
