Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
