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The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.

Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.

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

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.

"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."

Previous Setbacks

The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.

The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.

Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, 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 opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Series Schedule

The Ashes: Australia v England

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026