Pat Cummins Poised for a Major Role in the Ashes
Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move 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 "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
