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The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.

Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.

The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Previous Setbacks

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.

He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.

Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.

"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, 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

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026