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The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.

Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Perth.

Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of being involved.

"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.

"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."

Injury History

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.

Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.

Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."

"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026