Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
