Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
