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The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.

There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.

The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.

"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Injury History

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.

Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.

Backup Options

In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.

Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

The Historic Rivalry

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026