Australia's captain Poised for a Major Role in the Ashes

The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.

Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.

Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.

He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.

He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.

He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.

Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.

The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."

"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.

"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."

Fixture Details

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026