Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
