🔗 Share this article The fast bowler Set to Play a Key Part in Iconic Rivalry The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average. The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest. There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed. Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA. Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part. "We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented. "The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess." Previous Setbacks He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back. Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period. He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest. He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match. Contingency Plans In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy. The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso. He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl." "Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated. "He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy." Match Calendar Australia vs England: The Ashes Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026