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The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.

"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.

"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.

Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.

The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.

Backup Options

In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.

The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."

"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Series Schedule

Australia vs England: The Ashes

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026