“If Pat Doesn’t Play, Smith Will Captain”: George Bailey Confirms Ashes Backup Plan

Australia’s chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that Steve Smith will lead the team in the Ashes if Pat Cummins does not recover from his back injury in time. Australia will play England at home in a five-match Ashes series starting on November 21 and running until January 2026. Cummins has already been ruled out of the upcoming white-ball series against India and reports say he might also miss the start of the Ashes. If that happens, Smith will take over as captain for the first Test.

Steve Smith will lead Australia in this year’s Ashes if regular captain Pat Cummins doesn’t recover from the back injury that has kept him out since the last Test against the West Indies. Australian selector George Bailey confirmed the news, saying, “If Pat doesn’t play, Smudge [Smith] will captain. That’s normal for us, and it has worked well before.”

Steve Smith flew back to Australia from New York and wasted no time getting back to training, hitting the nets at Cricket New South Wales the very next day. He is set to feature in the next two Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales, which will take place at the Gabba and the SCG.

“Steve landed and was at Cricket NSW the next day, batting. He knows what works best for him. We’ve planned everyone’s preparation to fit their needs and we’re confident he’ll be ready to go,” said George Bailey.

Cummins to Stay Involved Despite Injury

Bailey mentioned that Cummins plans to contribute off the field by aiding team preparations and leadership, even if he can’t actively participate in matches. “Whether he’s playing or not, Pat wants to be around. He’ll be rehabbing, training and bowling, so he’ll be with the team anyway. The communication and teamwork between the captain and vice-captain will stay the same,” Bailey said.

Green Expected to Return Fully Fit for Ashes

Australia have been dealing with several injury issues lately, with the biggest worry being Cameron Green’s fitness. Green is still recovering from spinal surgery and was recently ruled out of the white-ball series against India due to slight side soreness. The team took this step as a safety measure to avoid any further problems.

"Even minor side strains can see players ruled out for four to six weeks, but there will be no question over Green's fitness come The Ashes. It's very, very minor. It's a very conservative and precautionary approach from us, given the timeline and the work we've put into him. He just pulled up a little bit sore post the Shield game, and the big plan is to have him fit and firing as an all-rounder come the Ashes," he concluded.

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by K D Mishra October 18, 2025