Australia's captain Expected to Feature a Key Part in Ashes Series
The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
