Pat Cummins Poised for a Key Part in Iconic Rivalry
Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026