đŸ”— Share this article Australia's captain Set to Play a Major Role in Ashes Series The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average. Australia's selection chief Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry. Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved. Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA. The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating. "It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked. "We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess." Past Concerns He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress. He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period. He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest. Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match. Contingency Plans In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side. Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue. Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl." "Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated. "Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively." Fixture Details The Historic Rivalry From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026