The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
