🔗 Share this article Australia's captain Set to Play a Key Part in the Ashes The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average. The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry. Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him. Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA. He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part. "We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added. "It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up." Past Concerns Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue. There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span. He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes. The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match. Backup Options If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side. Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue. He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs." "Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed. "He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route." Fixture Details The Ashes: Australia v England Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026