Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not just his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
