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The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in the WACA.

Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.

"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."

Previous Setbacks

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

Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.

He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

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

"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."

Series Schedule

The Ashes: Australia v England

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026