🔗 Share this article The fast bowler Expected to Feature a Significant Contribution in the Ashes The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average. The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest. Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him. Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth. The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating. "We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked. "It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up." Past Concerns He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back. Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period. The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series. Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test. Backup Options Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side. Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue. The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling." "Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed. "Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively." Match Calendar The Ashes: Australia v England Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026