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

There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.

He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.

"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.

"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Injury History

Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.

Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.

Alternative Arrangements

In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."

"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."

Match Calendar

The Ashes: Australia v England

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026