Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming 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.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
