Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
