Australia's captain Poised for a Major Role in Ashes Series

The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming Ashes series.

Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Injury History

The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.

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 rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Backup Options

In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."

Series Schedule

The Historic Rivalry

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026