Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
