🔗 Share this article

The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.

"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.

"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."

Past Concerns

He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.

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

Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."

Match Calendar

The Ashes: Australia v England

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026