Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start 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 various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted 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 recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
