Australia's captain Expected to Feature a Major Role in the Ashes
The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
