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Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.

Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.

"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.

"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.

The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.

Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.

The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.

Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."

"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.

"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."

Fixture Details

Australia vs England: The Ashes

From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026