Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
