Australia's captain Poised for a Key Part in Iconic Rivalry
The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
