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

Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."

Previous Setbacks

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."

"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.

"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."

Series Schedule

Australia vs England: The Ashes

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026