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The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.

Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.

Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.

"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."

Past Concerns

He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.

He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.

The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.

Contingency Plans

Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.

The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."

Match Calendar

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