Australia's captain Poised for a Major Role in Ashes Series

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

Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.

He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.

He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.

He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."

Fixture Details

The Ashes: Australia v England

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026