Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
