Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
