Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
