Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
