Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
