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Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.

Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.

"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."

Injury History

The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.

The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.

"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."

Series Schedule

Australia vs England: The Ashes

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026