Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
