The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
