Pat Cummins Set to Play a Major Role in the Ashes
The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable 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 Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
