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The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.

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

Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.

"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."

Injury History

Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.

The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.

Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."

"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."

Match Calendar

The Ashes: Australia v England

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026