Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
