🔗 Share this article Australia's captain Set to Play a Significant Contribution in Ashes Series The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10. The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry. There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him. Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA. He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part. "It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked. "We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust." Past Concerns The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress. There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years. The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest. He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test. Contingency Plans If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side. Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side. The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl." "We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained. "His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route." Match Calendar Australia vs England: The Ashes Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026