Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
