Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
