🔗 Share this article Pat Cummins Set to Play a Key Part in Iconic Rivalry Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10. Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest. There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed. Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA. Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part. "We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented. "We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust." Injury History The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue. He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years. He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest. He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test. Backup Options Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership. All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso. The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl." "Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed. "His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively." Match Calendar Australia vs England: The Ashes From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026