Australia's captain Poised for a Significant Contribution in Ashes Series

Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.

Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.

He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.

"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.

"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Injury History

The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."

"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.

"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026