Ashes 2025-26: Australia captain Pat Cummins to play ‘key role’ against England – George Bailey

Cummins was ruled out of Australia’s limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone strain in his back.

He has a history of back injuries, with injuries in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three summers in Australia in four years.

He said he would be “aggressive” and “risk” his recovery in order to play in the Ashes.

Bailey said he did not know if Cummins had taken up bowling as part of his rehabilitation but it was “getting tough” for him to be fit for the first Test.

If Cummins is not ready in time for the opener in Perth, former captain Steve Smith will captain the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently withdrawn from Australia’s squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure due to soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a “minor” injury and said Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so he will be “in a good place to be ready to play”.

“We have put a lot of time and energy into making the plan so that he will be available for the first Test as an all-rounder,” Bailey said.

“He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it sets him back another 24 hours, we’ve just taken a decision to approach that more conservatively.”