Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue 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 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
