Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot 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 be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
