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Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's Ashes series.

Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.

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

Injury History

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.

Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.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'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."

"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.

"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."

Fixture Details

The Ashes: Australia v England

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026