The fast bowler Expected to Feature a Significant Contribution in Ashes Series
The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps 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 forthcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026