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The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.

There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.

Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," he commented.

"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."

Previous Setbacks

The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.

He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.

He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

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

"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."

Fixture Details

Australia vs England: The Ashes

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026