Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
