Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
