Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
