The fast bowler Expected to Feature a Major Role in the Ashes

The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally 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 recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.

The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.

He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.

Alternative Arrangements

In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.

Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026