Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed 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 four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
