🔗 Share this article Australia's captain Set to Play a Significant Contribution in Iconic Rivalry Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10. The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series. Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him. Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth. Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part. "We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked. "The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess." Past Concerns He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress. There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years. Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest. The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener. Backup Options In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership. All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue. Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl." "We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained. "He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy." Match Calendar The Historic Rivalry From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026