Pat Cummins Set to Play a Significant Contribution in the Ashes
The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that skipper 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 persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp 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 participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
