Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
