🔗 Share this article Pat Cummins Poised for a Key Part in the Ashes The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average. The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series. Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him. Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia. He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part. "It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented. "We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up." Past Concerns The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back. Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span. Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series. He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test. Backup Options If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side. All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso. Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling." "We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated. "His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route." Fixture Details The Ashes: Australia v England Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026