Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
