Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups 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 comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
