Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
