Pat Cummins Set to Play a Major Role in Ashes Series
The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
