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The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.

Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.

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

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.

"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."

Previous Setbacks

Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.

The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.

Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."

Series Schedule

The Ashes: Australia v England

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026