Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
