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Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.

"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."

Injury History

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.

He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.

Contingency Plans

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

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.

Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."

Fixture Details

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026