Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
