Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
