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Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.

Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.

"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Injury History

He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.

Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.

"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."

Fixture Details

The Ashes: Australia v England

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026