Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
