Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat 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.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
