🔗 Share this article Pat Cummins Set to Play a Major Role in Iconic Rivalry The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10. The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series. Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved. Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia. He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved. "It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented. "We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess." Previous Setbacks He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back. There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years. He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series. The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test. Contingency Plans Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership. The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue. Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed 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 creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained. "Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy." Fixture Details The Ashes: Australia v England Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026