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Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.

There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.

He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.

Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.

All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."

Series Schedule

Australia vs England: The Ashes

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026