Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
