🔗 Share this article

The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.

Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.

Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.

He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.

"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.

"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."

Previous Setbacks

Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.

The bowler mentioned 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 Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Backup Options

Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."

"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.

"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."

Match Calendar

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026