Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old 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 final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
