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Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.

There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.

Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.

He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.

"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.

"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Injury History

The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.

Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.

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

Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.

He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."

"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.

"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."

Series Schedule

The Ashes: Australia v England

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026