Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
