Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
