Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports 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 Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
