Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
