Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
