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Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.

Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."

Previous Setbacks

The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.

Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.

Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026