π Share this article Australia's captain Poised for a Key Part in Ashes Series The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average. The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry. Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved. Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA. The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part. "It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked. "The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust." Injury History He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue. Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years. The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series. Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test. Backup Options In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership. All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso. Bailey described it as a "slight concern 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 developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained. "Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively." Match Calendar The Historic Rivalry From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026