Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play 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 participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
