🔗 Share this article

The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.

Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.

He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Past Concerns

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.

He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."

Match Calendar

The Historic Rivalry

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026