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Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.

Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.

Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."

Injury History

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy 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 acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.

"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."

Match Calendar

The Historic Rivalry

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026