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Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.

Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."

Past Concerns

He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.

The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.

The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.

Alternative Arrangements

In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure 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 "well-prepared to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.

"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026