Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
