🔗 Share this article Australia's captain Set to Play a Key Part in Iconic Rivalry The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average. The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry. There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed. Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA. He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved. "We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added. "It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess." Previous Setbacks Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue. He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period. Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest. He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery 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 ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso. Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs." "Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained. "He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively." Series Schedule The Ashes: Australia v England 21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026