The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
