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Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.

Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.

"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.

The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.

Backup Options

In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026