Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
