Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
