Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"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, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
