Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
