🔗 Share this article

The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.

Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

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

The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.

"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Past Concerns

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.

Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.

Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Series Schedule

The Historic Rivalry

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026