Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, 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. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
