Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
