Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old 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 his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
