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Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.

There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.

Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.

"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."

Injury History

He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.

The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.

Contingency Plans

In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."

"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. 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."

Series Schedule

The Historic Rivalry

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026