🔗 Share this article Pat Cummins Set to Play a Key Part in the Ashes The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average. The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry. Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved. Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth. Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating. "We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just his injury, but further aspects," he commented. "We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust." Injury History Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue. Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years. Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest. The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener. Alternative Arrangements Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy. Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue. The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl." "Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed. "Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route." Match Calendar The Ashes: Australia v England 21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026