Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
