Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old 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 whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
