Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure 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 remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
