Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
