Australia's captain Set to Play a Major Role in Ashes Series
The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem 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 the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
